PIONEERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION
Defining Terms
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Early Childhood Education ECE includes ages birth
through 8 years or infancy through third grade. Thus,
it refers to group settings deliberately intended to
effect developmental changes in children from birth
to the age of entering first grade and continuing
through third grade. (reference text, page 7)
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
Providing instructional programs that meet the child’s
needs, socially, cognitively, physically.
Influences from Abroad
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Comenius – Wrote the first picture book for children
called: “Orbis Pictus (The World of Pictures, 1658).
He advocated learning based on the principles of
nature—development is from within so children
should be allowed to learn at their own pace.
He also stressed the basic concept of “learning by
doing.”
He is most noted for three significant contributions:
books with illustrations, an emphasis on education
with the senses, and the social reform potential of
education.
Historical Pioneers continued
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Locke – Based his theory of education on the
scientific method. He theorized the concept
of tabula rasa, the belief that the child is born
neutral, rather than evil, and is a “clean slate”
on which the experiences of parents, society,
education, and the world are written. The
purpose of education for Locke was to make
man a reasoning creature.
Historical Pioneers continued
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Rousseau – He brought forth the idea that children
were not inherently evil but naturally good.
He is best known for his book Emile
His ideas are still followed today in early childhood
classes. Free play is based on his belief in
children’s inherent goodness and ability to choose
what they need to learn.
Concrete rather than abstract materials for children
is still one of the cornerstones of developmentally
appropriate curriculum in early childhood.
Historical Pioneers
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Pestalozzi – He, too, used nature study as a part of
the curriculum and believed that good education
meant the development of the senses.
He was pragmatic putting forth ideas and practices
for teachers on educating and caring for the child.
He stressed the ideas of an integrated curriculum
that would develop the “whole child.”
He wanted education to be of the hand, the head,
and the heart of the child.
Historical Pioneers con’t
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Froebel – He is known as the “Father of
Kindergarten” not only for giving it a name but for
devoting his life to the development of a system of
education for young children.
The German word kindergarten means “children’s
garden.”
He started his kindergarten in 1836 for children aged
about 2-6.
He believed that play was the highest phase of child
development.
Froebel con’t
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His kindergartens included blocks, pets, and
fingerplays.
He developed the first educational toys which
he termed “gifts.”
Historical Pioneers con’t
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Montessori – First female physician in Italy worked
with young children from the slums of Rome. They
were poor and mentally retarded children.
She designed materials, classrooms, and learning
methods for young children and proved that the
children could achieve with proper motivation and
environments.
Her materials were self-correcting and emphasized
self-help skills.
Montessori con’t
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She focused on sequential steps of learning.
Her materials and approach to teaching and
learning are widely used today.
Historical Pioneers con’t
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John Dewey – was the first American influence on
American education
Dewey believed that children were valuable and that
childhood was an important part of their lives
He believed that programs for children should be
“child-centered”
Children should have real-life experiences and
programs should be set up so that children were
allowed to make choices (They must learn to learn in
a democratic society)
Expansion of Kindergarten in America
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Margaretha Schurz, a student of Froebel, opened the first
kindergarten in the United States in Wisconsin for German
speaking children
Elizabeth Peabody opened the first English speaking
kindergarten in Boston. She influenced William Harris,
superintendent of schools in St. Louis. He allowed Susan Blow
to open the first kindergarten public kindergarten in the U. S.
(1837)
Patty Smith Hill of Teacher’s College, Columbia University was
an innovator and a leader in the “Progressive Movement”. She
wrote the song, “Happy Birthday” and founded the National
Association for Nursery Education (NANE) now the National
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Nursery Schools
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Deweys philosophy was embraced (childcentered) and by the 1920s and 1930s
nursery schools and day nurseries went
beyond the health aspects. They fostered
the child’s total development.
Many of the early nursery schools were lab
schools
Lucy Sprague Mitcehll established Bank
Stree College of Education (and its lab)
Nursery Schools con’t
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Abigail Elliot work led to her helping to
establish Pacific Oaks College where she
integrated Froebel’s gifts, Montessori’s
equipment and the McMillan’s fresh air
concept
McMillan Sisters - It is believed that Nursery
School in the U.S. blossomed because of the
dedicated work of these sisters.
Nursery Schools con’t
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The McMillan’s – They opened clinic for
children of the slums of England and later
added education. Their theory of fresh air,
sleep and bathing proved successful when
the children of their school were not effected
during an outbreak of the measles
This concept of nursery schools extended to
the U.S.
Nursery Schools con’t
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Susan Isaacs’ influence is felt in schools
today – Her philosophy emphasized the
child’s point of view and the notionof play as
the child’s work.