HISTORICAL SKETCH 



The most wonderful of all civilizations that have yet 

 appeared in the world is that of Greece. The Greeks 

 not only originated nearly all branches of science and 

 art on which modern civilization rests, but they dis- 

 covered the methods which have made real progress 

 in education possible. More than two thousand years 

 ago the science of education was the culmination of 

 their glory. At that time the school-masters were 

 considered the true luminaries of the world, and they 

 were honored above all other men. Only the bright- 

 est intellects, the most learned, the wisest and best 

 men could become teachers. 



About six hundred years before Christ the phi- 

 losophy of the Greeks was becoming more philosophic. 

 Each generation was correcting the errors of the past, 

 and civilization was reaching a higher standard. 

 Three men of learning and genius, Solon, the Law- 

 giver, Thales and Pythagoras, philosophers and 

 teachers, appeared at the same time. They gave 

 their energies to the cause of education and philan- 

 thropy. The disciples of these wise men became the 

 teachers of Socrates ; Socrates was the teacher of 

 Plato ; Plato was the teacher of Aristotle ; Aristotle 

 was the teacher of Alexander the Great, and the first 

 to illustrate all the principles of the new education. 



