Friedrich Dittes

Friedrich Dittes (23 September 1829 in Irfersgrün – 15 May 1896 in Pressbaum) was a German-Austrian educator, known for his reform efforts within the Austrian school system.

He studied various subjects at the University of Leipzig, and in 1860 became sub-rector at a secondary school in Chemnitz. In 1865 he was named director of the teacher's college in Gotha, then three years later relocated to Vienna as director of the Pedagogium (a training facility for teachers).

He was a disciple of philosopher Friedrich Eduard Beneke, especially in regards to the latter's empirical approach to psychology and ethics. He was also influenced by the past work of educationist Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi and the contemporary teachings of Adolph Diesterweg. As an educator, Dittes believed that a school system needed to be essentially free from external pressures that included the clergy.

From 1868 to 1896 he was editor of the journal [https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000639852 "''Paedagogium : Monatsschrift für Erziehung und Unterricht''"]. The thoroughfare "Dittesgasse" in Währing (18th district of Vienna) is named in his honor. Provided by Wikipedia