Kindergarten Movements In American (1856-1920)

During the middle of 19th century, the educational ideas of kindergarten and the institute of kindergarten which from Frobel, the educationist in German, came into American. In the follow latter semi-centennial, great changes have taken place in American society. With the rapid advancement of American industry and rapid increase number of immigrant, with the democratic society was built and the need of amalgamation in different nationality, new requirements of education were brought forward, especially the educational programs for young children, because the young children were easiest to be changed. Besides the impersonal need of society, some educationists worked hard in theory in order to adapt the original ideas of Frobel to American culture, thus some changes have taken place during the developmental course of Froebelian Kindergarten in American, and became the " American Kindergarten" at last. This thesis is as the thread in Froebelian changes in the circle of American kindergarten historical position, described the American kindergarten movement from the fifties of the 19th century to the twenties of the 20th century, and Summarize and analyzed to it.This paper includes four parts. Instances about educational programs for young children before Froebelian Kindergarten come into American were introduced in the first part, give a wide background for the paper. The second part of this paper mainly described the process of Froebelian Kindergarten came into American, the first kindergarten in American and the kindergartens in early stage. The third part as the thread in historical position of Froebelian in the American kindergarten, have divided three periods and explained the development of the American kindergarten from the sixties of the 19th century to the twenties of the 20th century. The initial stage represented by Peabody and Blow is the period occupying an leading position in the kindergarten of Froebelian thought; Later, regarded charitable kindergarten as the sign , Froebelian met more realistic problems in practice of the kindergarten, in many aspects to query , regard Child Study of Hall as beginning meanwhile , challenge Froebelian scientifically, its leading position in the education theory of the kindergarten begins to waver, but new theory does not replace it completely. At the beginning of the 20thcentury, progressive doctrine , pragmatism became the mainstream of U.S.A.' s educational circles thoughts, the educationist represented by Dewey begins to carry on thorough subversion to Froebelian, and has set up one' s own infant' s education theory on the basis of its . So far, the leading status of Froebelian in American infant's education circle is lost completely. The fourth part have summarized the transition which the American kindergarten realized from the fifties of the 19th century to the twenties of the 20th century mainly, and analyzed its reason at the same time, The aspects of analysis are mainly concentrated at the background of era, rapid develop of American educational theory, the influence and promotion of education society for young children.It is important significance that research on Froebelian Kindergarten became "American Kindergarten" for our country, because our country faced with the same problem, too. In this paper, developments and changes of American educational programs for young children at early stage are discussed, author hope this paper would help enrich our educational experience, enlighten our educationist to think the factors which affect education programs for young children. At the same time, the study will fill the blank and prompts the advancement of the subject of education history.