Dauntless Women in Childhood Education, 1856-1931. INSTITUTION Association for Childhood Education International, Washington,/ D.C
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 094 892 PS 007 449 AUTHOR Snyder, Agnes TITLE Dauntless Women in Childhood Education, 1856-1931. INSTITUTION Association for Childhood Education International, Washington,/ D.C. PUB DATE [72] NOTE 421p. AVAILABLE FROM Association for Childhood Education International, 3615 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016 ($9.50, paper) EDRS PRICE NF -$0.75 HC Not Available from EDRS. PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *Biographical Inventories; *Early Childhood Education; *Educational Change; Educational Development; *Educational History; *Educational Philosophy; *Females; Leadership; Preschool Curriculum; Women Teachers IDENTIFIERS Association for Childhood Education International; *Froebel (Friendrich) ABSTRACT The lives and contributions of nine women educators, all early founders or leaders of the International Kindergarten Union (IKU) or the National Council of Primary Education (NCPE), are profiled in this book. Their biographical sketches are presented in two sections. The Froebelian influences are discussed in Part 1 which includes the chapters on Margarethe Schurz, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, Susan E. Blow, Kate Douglas Wiggins and Elizabeth Harrison. Alice Temple, Patty Smith Hill, Ella Victoria Dobbs, and Lucy Gage are- found in the second part which emphasizes "Changes and Challenges." A concise background of education history describing the movements and influences preceding and involving these leaders is presented in a single chapter before each section. A final chapter summarizes the main contribution of each of the women and also elaborates more fully on such topics as IKU cooperation with other organizations, international aspects of IKU, the writings of its leaders, the standardization of curriculuis through testing, training teachers for a progressive program, and the merger of IKU and NCPE into the Association for Childhood Education.(SDH) r\J CS` 4-CO CI. CD GDAUNTLESS WOMEN. GIN.CHILDHOOD GEDUCATION. 1856-1931 by AGNES SNYDER for Early Leaders in Childhood Education Committee of Association for Childhood Education International Olga Adams, Chairman, 1961-1969 Clarissa Bacon Elizabeth Neterer Frances M. Berry (deceased 1968) Cleo Rainwater (deceased 1961) Helen A. Bertermann Agnes Snyder Eleanor Burts Jennie Wahlert (deceased 1971) Jennie Campbell Evelyn Weber Merle Gray Editor, Margaret Rasmussen Coordinator, 1961-1972 THIS U 5 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL BYMICRO. EDUCATION & WELFARE GRANTED By NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FICHE ONLY HAS SEEN EDUCATION THIS OCCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO DUCE° EXACTLY As RECEIVED ,ROM OPERA] THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATIONSTHE NA ATING IT POINTS Or v!EV., OR OPINIONS INGuNDER AGREEMENTS WiTil TIONAL INSTITUTE OIEDUCATION STATED 00 NOT NECESSARILY REPRE OUTSIDE SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE Or T UP THEP REPRODUCTION EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY THE EPIC SYSTEM REQUIRESrFkmis SION OF THE COPYRIGHTOWNER 0 ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDHOODEDUCATION INTERNATIONAL 3615 Wisconsin Ave., N. W., Washington, D. C. 20016 1972 All rights reserved This book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any forn without permis- sion (exception: magazine and newspaper reviews). C) 1972 by Association for Childhood Education Imernational Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 72-80018 Printed in the United States of America Price $9.50 This book is dedicated to all who, in the spirit of the dauntless leaders of yesterday, are confronting educational problems of today. Content s ForewordOlga Adams Writer's PrefaceAgnes Snyder iii Appreciation Chap.I.1856 and Before 3 The Pull of Tradition 3 The Hold of Tradition Weakening 5 Forerunners of Change 9 Mid-Century United States 12 PART I. FROEBELIAN INFLUENCES Chap.2.Margarethe Schurz (1832-1876) German Influences 19 Watertown, an Educational Shrine 19 Impact of Revolution and Philosophic Idealism 22 From Hamburg to England 25 In the New World 26 Chap.3.Elizabeth Palmer Peabody (1804-1894) Promoting the Kindergarten 31 A Fateful Meeting 31 Teaching, a Passionate Pursuit 32 The Book Store 39 The First English-Speaking American Kindergarten 41 In Search of the "True" Kindergarten 45 Fruitful Years:Promoting Kindergartens 48 Chap.4.Susan E. Blow (1843-1916) Interpreting Froebel Absolute Idealism 59 Peabody and Blow 59 From Ease to Service 59 Inspired Teaching 63 Troubled Years 66 A Clash of Ideologies in IKU 69 Blow and Hill at Teachers College, Columbia Uni- versity 76 Interpreting in Writing 79 Tributes and Gratifications 82 Chap.5. Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923) Creative Teaching and Writing 89 A Creative Artist 89 Joyous Childhood: Roots of a Creative Future 90 Youth:Inspiration, Enchantment, Reality 94 Peabody-Severance-Marwedel-Wiggin 96 Silver Street in Tar Flats 101 Rapid Kindergarten Growth in California .. 105 Growth of the Kindergarten on the West Coast 109 Marriage, Travel, Writing 111 Creative Interpreter of Froebel 115 Poetry, Fantasy, Laughter for Children 119 Late Years: Intense and Varied Activity 120 Chap. 6. Elizabeth Harrison (1849-1927) Bridging the Old and the New 127 Philosophic Idealism and Scientific Perspective 127 Childhood and Youth in Mature Perspective 128 Peabody, Putnam, Blow, Kraus-Boelte, Harrison . 134 Expanding Horizons for Teachers and Parents 139 To Germany for Further Study 141 Continued Growth with Varied Activities 143 In the Foothills and Renewal 148 Writing for Parents, Teachers and Children 149 To Italy for Study with Montessori 156 Liberal-Conservative Leader in IKU 158 Consolidating Experiences 161 Chap. 7. Education in Its Historical Setting 167 A Firm Foundation Laid by the Froebelians 167 The United States as It Comes of Age 168 Changing Directions Through an Indigenous Philosophy 173 Changing Procedures Through an Indigenous Psychology 178 New Leadership 181 PART IL CHANGES AND CHALLENGES Chap. 8.Alice Temple (1871-1946) Quiet, Courageous Leadership 189 A Unified Life Pattern 189 Self and Work Inseparable 190 At the. University of Chicago: Articulation, Experi- mentation, Teaching 195 Psychological Trend: Tests, Check Lists, Surveys 205 At Work in IKU and ACE 208 At Work in IKU and ACE: On Committees 212 At Work in IKU and ACE: On CHILDHOOD EDUCA- TION 220 Balance in Achievement 223 Chap.9.Patty Smith Hill (1868-1946) Dynamic Leadership in New Directions 233 Temple and Hill 233 Growing Up,in a Close-Knit Humane Family 235 With Annie E. Bryan: Louisville and IKU 239 Continued Family Cooperation in Humanitarian Activities 251 At Teachers College, Columbia University 253 TeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversity: Experimental 256 At Teachers College: Writing 265 Liberal Leader in IKU 268 Learning and Cooperating Internationally 268 Retirement: Manhattanville, Remaking a Neighborhood 270 Chap. 10.Ella Victoria Dobbs (1866-1952) Vision and Prac- ticality: Teaching and Citizenship 283 Generalist and Specialist 283 A Serious Bent in Childhood 285 Early Teaching: Emphasis on Manual Arts 286 Study at Teachers College, Columbia University: Change in Outlook 291 Manual Arts Approaches: Dobbs, Mossman, Bowser 292 At University of Missouri: Teaching ,tnd Experimenting 295 Toward a Wider Outlook for Teachers 300 Leadership in National Council of Primary Education 302 Woman Suffrage Association; League of Women Voters 312 Interest Continues During Retirement 316 Chap. 11. Lucy Gage (1876-1945) Pioneering Through Life 323 Impact of a Powerful and Generous Personality 323 A Pioneer in a Pioneering Family 330 Teaching at Kalamazoo State Normal School and Study at Teachers College, Columbia University 336 Appointment to George Peabody College for Teach- ers and More Study at Columbia University 338 Fruition at George Peabody College 341 Two Little Books For and About Children 345 In IKU and NCPE 345 Visiting Students in Foreign Lands 352 Chap. P.1931: Before and Ahead 357 Achievements, 1856-1931 357 Cooperation with Other Organizations 362 International Aspects of 1KU 362 Writings of Leaders 363 Implementing Philosophy and Psychology 364 Standardization Through Testing 367 School and Society: Divergent Points of View 369 Training Teachers for Progressive Program 369 The Merger of IKU and NOPE 371 A Glimpse Ahead 375 The Future: 1931 and On 377 Art Credits 378 Photo Credits 379 Permissions 380 Index 383 Foreword For many years a group of members of the Association for Childhood Education International has felt that the educational world, including the membership, should know more about and thus appreciate the sig- nificance of the Association's illustrious heritageparticularly in view of the fact that many early leaders in education were members of the International Kindergarten Union and the National Council of Primary Education, the two organizations that merged in 1931 to become the Association for Childhood Education. In 1961 the ACEI Executive Board, convinced of this need, appointed a committee to study the historical background of kindergarten and elementary education and to reportits documentary findings ina personalized narrative. At its first meeting in 1961, the committee decided that the assignment "Early Leaders in Childhood Education" was too all inclusive a task to undertake.It proposed that the book be confined to the founders and early leaders of the International Kindergarten Union and the National Council of Primary Education. Thus the book could present the leader- ship qualities of those women who had helped shape education, whose steadfast beliefs and classroom practices were largely an unknown account in today's educational world. The committee