wn.

=Catechumen Schools.=--The first Christian schools were _catechumen
schools_. A _catechumen_ was a person who desired instruction in the new
faith with a view to baptism and admission into the Church. As many of
the converts had been pagans, and as all were ignorant of the
requirements of the Church as well as of the new doctrines, such
instruction was absolutely necessary. Therefore the converts were
divided into classes, at first two, later, four; and instruction was
given them in the rudiments of Christianity. In the beginning the
catechumen schools were for adults only, but afterward children were
admitted, and reading and writing were taught. Previous to this change,
if children received any secular instruction at all, it was given at
their homes by parents or tutors, or in the pagan schools. At the close
of the second century Protogenes established a school at Odessa, in
which reading, writing, texts of Scripture, and singing of psalms were
taught. This was the first _Christian common school_. Other schools
followed rapidly as the persecutions ceased, until Rome became
Christianized, and pagan schools gave place to Christian schools
throughout the empire. Two great names are closely connected with this
movement.

CHRYSOSTOM (347-407)

One of the greatest representatives of the early Christian Church
interested in education was Chrysostom.[28] He was born at Antioch in
Syria, and educated in the pagan schools, but the influence of his
devout Christian mother kept him true to her faith. He was noted for his
eloquence, hence the name by which he is known in history, for
Chrysostom means _golden-mouthed_. John Malone says of him, "First of
the great Christian preachers after the Church came from the caves, he
was not less able as a teacher."[29] He became bishop of the Church, and
was the greatest pedagogue of his time. Some of his educational
principles may be stated as follows:--

1. As Christ lowered himself to man's estate in order to raise man to
his estate, so the teacher must lower himself to the capacity of his
pupils in order to elevate them.

2. Christ did not reveal everything to his disciples, suggesting
sometimes truths for them to discover; so the teacher must not do for
his pupils what they can do for themselves.

3. The foundation of all true education is the Christian life and
example; therefore teachers and parents must walk circumspectly before
children.

4. Women, especially mother