ABSTRACT
While attacking the old teaching methods which too often involved forcing knowledge into recalcitrant pupils by abundant use of the cane, Pestalozzi remained in favour of maintaining firm discipline in class. He never advocated any 'learn while you play' schemes: on the contrary he believed in the value of hard work. 'As for your principle', he wrote in one letter, 'that one should make children work hard and that good instruction is indeed only to be achieved through hard work, I am in entire agreement with you.' 1 Pestalozzi expected the teachers to stimulate the children's interest sufficiently to absorb them in the work being undertaken, and thereby avoid the necessity of imposing discipline by external means.
