‘…den Roomschen Bavinck’1

Abstract

‘… a Roman Catholic Bavinck’. Brother Sigebertus Rombouts and the pedagogy of Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck Shortly after the death of Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck (1854-1921), the Roman Catholic educator Brother Sigebertus Rombouts (1883-1962) published a study guide on his pedagogical writings, intended for Catholic teachers. Rombouts praised the Christian principles in Bavinck’s system of (moral) pedagogical thinking. According to Rombouts, the current Catholic pedagogy was poor and superficial. Catholic teachers would be strengthened in their religious identity if they were introduced to Bavinck’s high-quality moral pedagogical ideas. At the same time, Rombouts criticised Bavinck’s poor knowledge of everyday school practice. This article discusses two examples of Rombouts’ critique. The Reformed theologian rejected modern research by behavioural scientists – psychologists and pedagogues – because they only examined an aspect of the child and not the whole person. Rombouts argued that tests ensured that pupils who could not keep up in class were referred to schools for special education. Bavinck was also critical of the didactic method of ‘visual education’; the use of pictures in textbooks, school wall charts, and other visual teaching aids. He argued that only words were capable of conveying knowledge. According to Rombouts, Bavinck ignored the fact that words must be supported by images. In everyday school practice, the use of school wall charts and other visual aids had been common since the second half of the nineteenth century.