Note 785 — Chapter XV · Training of the Jesuit Teacher.

Ratio Discendi, ch. II.—It has been proved in chapter IV, pp. 124–129, that history and geography were never neglected in the colleges of the Society. In the mean time I found that the Protestant writers of Schmid’s great Geschichte der Erziehung (1884–1901), in sharp contrast with the assertions of M. Compayré, candidly admit the services rendered to history and geography by Jesuit schools and scholars. Thus Dr. von Sallwürk says: “The study of history was considerably advanced by Jesuit writers, but the colleges of the University [of Paris] did not imitate the example of the Jesuits.” Geschichte der Erziehung, vol. IV, Abteilung I, p. 436. “The Fathers Sirmond, Petavius, and Labbe have well deserved of historical studies and of the teaching of history in the schools.... Geography was henceforth zealously cultivated by the Jesuits.... Of great practical importance were the labors of the remarkably diligent Father Buffier; especially on geography and grammar he has written good books, in which the traditional scholastic tone is happily avoided.... His Philosophy and Practical Grammar was for a long time considered the only useful grammar of the French language.... In the schools of the Oratory we find geography as a branch of study; but to the Jesuits must be allowed the merit of having taught this branch before the Oratorians. In their College at Amiens was trained Nicolas Sanson, the ‘Father of Geography’.” Ibid., p. 456 and 466.