Compiled and edited by Gillian Maguire and Andrew Sutton
“Nothing can tear us apart
We had met at the beginning of time
We have met in every possible shape
and form
We always recognised each other at
first sight” András Pető
“András Pető had an indomitable will
to heal and this end would be achieved by no matter how hard everyone involved
should have to work to achieve this.
The moral force of this will was
transmitted down through his institute and everyone working there- those who
taught and those who learned. It permeated every aspect of life there, the
ethos, the atmosphere in which children were brought up (and of course for his
numerous adult patients too). The pedagogic task was to transform this will
from teachers to learners and along with this to transfer the teachers’ respect
for the pupils’ sure ability to find their own path to success. And with the
motivation and rewards from hard- won independent success, András Pető’s will
became the will of everyone there.
Such pedagogy demands total focus of
every possible factor relevant to learning and development, bringing everything
together to be coordinated in pupils’ own particular, personally integrated
ways. This was certainly a pedagogy rather than a therapy or a treatment, but
what to call it? 60 years ago, for a Central European medical man with a
classical education this was a pedagogy that is 'conductive'.
And the pedagogues who implemented
this were to become 'conductors'. ”
References: Pető Studies, Conductive Education
Press Birmingham, England 2012 Poems -In his own words- page 155.
Pető Studies, Conductive Education Press Birmingham, England 2012- page 229/230.
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