the ultimate end of education is not a perfection in the accomplishments of the school, but fitness for life; not the acquirement of habits of blind obedience, and of prescribed diligence, but a preparation for independent action. we must bear in mind that whatever class of society a pupil may belong to, whatever calling he may be intended for, there are certain faculties in human nature common to all, which constitute the stock of the fundamental energies of man. we have no right to withhold from any one the opportunities for developing all their faculties. it may be judicious to treat some of them with marked attention, and to give up the idea of bringing others to high perfection. the diversity of talent and inclination, of plans and pursuits, is a sufficient proof of the necessity for such a distinction. but i repeat that we have no right to shut out the child from the development of those faculties also, which we may not for the present conceive to be very essential for his future calling or station in life.
-pestalozzi,
letters on infants' education (1819)
