Friedrich Froebel’s Last Days
On June 21st (the summer solstice) in 1852, Friedrich Froebel died. Nearly one year previously, at the age of 69 he had married Luise Levin, his most trusted of Kindergarten teachers. Less than a month after his marriage he saw his life’s work outlawed by decree of the German government, who were concerned that Kindergarten was a socialist plot designed to undermine the influence and status quo of the monarchy. This shock to his system at that advanced age slightly weakened his grip on life and his immune system, creating an opening for disease. His last days were documented by his faithful friends/colleagues, and I’ve found it helpful in understanding the man. I briefly aggregate their descriptions here (my apologies for the editing and lack of footnoting):
On the 6th June he was attacked by the illness which proved fatal. In health he had often been stern and exacting. Now he was remarkably gentle and submissive, and gave a welcome to all. He would talk cheerfully with his wife or his doctor, and would smile and thank the children or students who brought him flowers. Sometimes he would direct the arrangement of them, or he would express his enjoyment of the fresh air coming in through the open window, and then speak of his union with God and nature.
He exhorted his friends in Keilhau to live a life unity and harmony, and entrusted his wife to Read More…
Froebel Education Centre Celebrates 40 Years
In April 2011, the Froebel Education Centre of Toronto, Canada celebrated their 40 year anniversary. Read about their celebration: Froebel School Celebrates 40 Years. While the FEC once had over 100 students, the challenging marketplace for education has made it more difficult for non-traditional schools such as this. It is also often hard to explain Froebel’s philosophy, as evidenced by the reporter’s attempt at explaining it.
Learning to Use Froebel™ Gifts & Occupations
Because there is no comprehensive modern guide to using the Gifts and Occupations with children, there is often confusion on what to do with the various materials. Many of the 19th century guides are now available for free courtesy of Google’s book scanning initiative. To find these books, here is a page with links to recommend books. Other recommended books can be purchased, such as the hard-to-find Kindergarten Guide vol.2 The Occupations by Maria Kraus-Boelte.
But it is difficult to rely on just one source of information. Froebel’s own writings are the most authentic, although his writing style is often difficult to follow (not helped by the English translations made over 140 years ago). Much variation has occurred over the years, with companies such as Milton Bradley adding new “Gifts” to the mix and muddying the waters. Generally speaking, the books by those who knew and worked with Froebel are the best.
Froebel himself did not explicitly produce a “curriculum” for an important reason … because his goal was to create a prepared environment and encourage adults to follow the child in a play-based process. He had very specific ideas about the design of the materials and how they relate to the properties of our universe, but he did not want to create a one-size-fits-all “recipe” for education.
This is not to say that Froebel intended an unstructured free-for-all of random play. The adult guiding the play was well-trained in observation and skilled in helping the child make connections. For a true educator (whether trained or naturally intuitive) the Gifts & Occupations provide powerful tools for a child-centered educational environment.
Many dozens of books (and thousands of articles) have been written about the Froebel™ Gifts. The most important thing to remember is that the materials are intended as an opportunity for a child to create … to take an idea inside their mind and manifest it outside. Once created, the child can observe what they have done, perhaps learn proper vocabulary from the adult, and internalize what they have learned in the process. The goal is not to have them replicate designs of patterns made by others, as is often done my uninformed but well-meaning people these days. Keep the play creative and you will likely be on the right track.
Frank Lloyd Wright Block Play Workshops
Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin offers Froebel™ Gift Play workshops for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in and around Dane County. Students create 2-D designs and 3-D structures using the Gifts. These workshops promote spatial thinking (shape, pattern, symmetry and scale) as well as problem solving, concentration, and creativity. For information, contact Heather Sabin at hsabin@mononaterrace.com or 608-261-4015 or visit their website.
