Today In History: Jean Piaget Is Born
The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered.
-- Jean Piaget, as quoted in Education for Democracy : Proceedings from the Cambridge School Conference on Progressive Education.
Born in Neuchâtel (Switzerland) on August 9th, 1896 to Arthur Piaget, professor of medieval literature at the University of Neuchâtel, and Rebecca Jackson, of the French family of established steel foundry owners, Jean Piaget was a prominent and prolific psychologist and genetic epistemologist; his theories of child development, which focused on children's minds, would lay the classic foundation for study and research in the four stages of human development, and influence other fields, including evolution, philosophy, primatology, and artificial intelligence. The four stages comprised: sensorimotor (0-2 years old), pre-operational (2-7 years old), concrete operational (7-11 years old), and formal operational (12 years and older). Interested in how a child mentally constructs the world, he believed that intelligence was not fixed, but rather driven by biological maturation and interaction with the environment.
In 1955 at the University of Geneva, Piaget opened the International Center for Genetic Epistemology which became a hub for scholarship. During his lifetime Piaget wrote over 60 books and several hundred articles. Some say that his brilliance in scientific research was evident from the age of eleven when he wrote an essay on the albino sparrow at Neuchâtel Latin high school and then went on to mollusks before studying natural sciences for his Ph.D at the University of Neuchâtel.
Jean Piaget and his wife Valentine Châtenay had three children -- Jacqueline, Lucienne and Laurent -- whose early years and intellectual development he studied with inspiration for his academic work.
The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.
- Elkind, D. (1968, May 26). Giant in the Nursery -- Jean Piaget: Piaget's Brainchildren -- Many 30 Years Old -- Are Just Now Going to School in the U. S. New York Times (1923-)
- Know Your Childhood Stages. (1967, Oct 28). Call and Post (1962-1982)
- Kirsch, R. (1973, Oct 04). The Book Report: Overview of Jean Piaget Books. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995)
- Gardner, H. G. (1976, Aug 01). The Grasp of Consciousness: Jean Piaget at 80 Continues to Learn About Children. New York Times (1923-)
- Gardner, H. (1979, Jan 03). Getting Acquainted with Jean Piaget. New York Times (1923-)
- Child Development Expert Jean Piaget Is Dead at 84. (1980, Sep 17). Chicago Tribune (1963-1996)
- Whitman, A.(1980, Sep 17). Jean Piaget Dies in Geneva at 84: Jean Piaget, Psychologist, Is Dead at 84: Mental Growth by Integration Four Stages of Growth Followed a Strict Schedule Inside the Child's Mind. New York Times (1923-)
- Obituaries: Jean Piaget, 84, Swiss Psychplogist Who Helped Revolutionize Education. (1980, Sep 18). Boston Globe (1960-)
- Gardner, H. G. (1980, Sep 21). Jean Piaget: The Psychologist as Renaissance Man: The Philosopher's Shadow. New York Times (1923-)
- Taylor, M. (1980, Sep 23). Tempo: Jean Piaget Legacy: Teach Children and Learn How They Think. Chicago Tribune (1963-1996)
- About Jean Piaget, Jean Piaget Society
- Centre Jean Piaget, University of Geneva
- Books by Jean Piaget held at the Gottesman Libraries
Images:
- Drawing of Jean Piaget, Courtesy of Canva
- Poster Image: Psychology Symbol, Courtesy of Canva
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