Friedrich Froebel and Marie Clay Essay example - 1538 Words

Friedrich Froebel and Marie Clay Friedrich August Wilhelm Froebel was born in Oberweissback, Germany in April 21, 1782 (Ransbury, 1995). He was the sixth child of a Lutheran Minister, but lost his mother before his first birthday. As a young boy, he played and explored in the gardens surrounding his home most of the time. His deep love of nature would later influence his educational philosophy. He did not become educated until age eleven. When he was fifteen years old, he was apprenticed to a Forester. He then studied at the University of Jena. He accepted a teaching position at the Frankfurt Model School in Yverdon, Switzerland. This school was based on the teachings of Johann Heirnrich Pestalozzi. Froebel embraced Pestalozzi’s†¦show more content†¦The occupations were tasks that taught skills useful in later life such as weaving, folding paper, stringing beads, perforating paper, modeling with clay, lacing cards, follow the dots, and joint and stick construction (Ja longo and Isenberg, 2000). He also believed children were brought closer to God through song, dance, plays, and games. Froebel called his approach to education â€Å"self-activity† and â€Å"self-representation† (â€Å"Friedrich Froebel†, 2000; Ransbury, 1995). Therefore the teacher’s role is as a guide, not a lecturer (â€Å"Friedrich Froebel†, 2000). He was also the first to introduce the â€Å"concept of curricula appropriate to a child’s developmental level† (Woodill,1995). Froebel designed Kindergarten to children’s needs in â€Å"physical activity, the development of sensory awareness and physical dexterity, creative expression, exploration of ideas and concepts, the pleasure of singing, the experience of living among others, and satisfaction of the soul† (â€Å"Friedrich Froebel†, 2000). Until his death in 1852, he was devoted to making Kindergarten known. The German immigrants brought the idea of Kindergarten to the United States in the nineteenth century. Margaretta Schurz established the first German Kindergarten in Wisconsin in 1855 and Elizabeth Peabody established the first English Kindergarten and training school in Boston in 1860 (Sadker and Sadker, 2000). Like Froebel, Marie Clay a