A PEDAGOGIA HUMANISTA DE SÃO JOÃO DA CRUZ (1542-1591) NO SÉCULO XVI

Abstract

The humanist pedagogical concepts in 16th Century Spain are provided by means of
an analysis of the ideas of St. John of the Cross, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Order.
The Spanish pedagogical ideas were part of the training activity defended by the philosopher
with regard to his novices and to students of the primary schools maintained by the Order.
The primary schools mentioned above were highly important for the spread of humanist
pedagogical ideas. The primary schools maintained by the Mendicant Orders, among which
may be found the Discalced Carmelite Order, constituted decisive factors in schooling,
training in reading, writing and mathematics and in the study of the vernacular languages. This occurred due to the fact that they established new models of instruction and elementary
education in Spain at the start of Modern Period, from where they spread to the recently
conquered lands of the Americas. In the 16th century reform of the Carmelite Order, St John
of the Cross and his disciples undertook a great pedagogical effort for the spread of reading
and writing in the communities in which they established themselves. St John of the Cross’s
texts features pedagogical characteristics such as affectivity as an educational, religious and
knowledge-producing expression.