The inspiration for the German philanthropic pedagogy derived from the Scottish Enlightenment philanthropist philosophy that espoused human happiness as living in harmony with Nature, righteousness and good deeds toward others, as well as to help build a community. It was also influenced strongly Rousseau’s concept of natural education which embraced philanthropy as an essential strategy for human happiness.
The German philanthropic movement aimed to implement philanthropic philosophy in public education. The immediate goal was to disseminate religious and class tolerance toward the abolition of the class system and the exclusive institutions of the ancien régime. Even though the new German pedagogy of philanthropism became couched mainly into patriotism, the incorporation of international educational ideas and visits to international sites of agriculture and industry, and its advocacy of tolerance as a strategy for social change, characterize it as a movement toward cosmopolitan Europeanness.
German philanthropic education aimed at the population in its entirety, trying to separate the school system from the church in order to teach religious tolerance. It furthermore tried to prepare students of all ages and classes for a society based on ability not birthright through the creation of equal and tolerant conditions; this involved common clothing, food, and activities.
Building on the evolving European trend of tolerance, the German Philanthropists implemented these strategies into a system of public education that successfully eroded the institutions of the ancien régime toward a modern Europe.
