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1524
Martin Luther
Martin Luther wrote a letter to city councils in Germany to establish and maintain schools for boys and girls. Luther argued for compulsory education for all. His primary role was translating the bible and teaching people to read. His role in early childhood was critical today because literacy is the very important skill in education today. -
John Amos Comenius
John Amos Comenius wrote and published the first picture book called "Orbis Pictus". He felt early education was important and should be taught through children's senses. Today sensory learning is taught throughout the classroom through books and colorful pictures. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau wrote the book "Emile" explaining education should take into account the children's growth and interest. Today this is a major part of education when children are assessed to see where they are academically and base their learning on their outcomes. -
Johann Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi wrote the books called "How Gertrude Teaches Her Children" and "Book for Mothers" which emphasized education at home and learning by discovery. Pestalozzi was influenced by Comenius and Rousseau and believed education was based through the senses. Today Pestalozzi was a large influence on home-schooling. You can find many different books on teaching and parenting in stores and libraries today. -
Robert Owen
Owen set up an infant school in New Lanark, Scotland in belief that education will help make a near perfect society by shaping a child's character. He felt environments help contribute to childrens beliefs, behavior, and their achievements much like today. -
Friedrich Froebel
Froebel, known as "Father of Kindergarten", established the first kindergarten in Blankenburg, Germany. Froebel's belief was children learned best through self-activity and play. Froebel helped develop a curriculum for children based on objects, occupations, and songs. Today early learning uses many songs and play to help children learn, such as the ABC's. -
Susan Blow
Susan Blow, who was largely influenced by Froebel, opened the first public kindergarten in the United States in St. Louis, Missouri. She ran it for eleven years without any pay, teaching children and teachers. She devoted her life to early education and was a vital part to establishing kindergarten throughout the United States. -
John Dewey
Dewey opened a school at the University of Chicago basing his program on child-centered learning. His theory was children's interests were more important than the subject in which they are learning. He felt learning should resemble children's home life, such as crafts and cooking, to help teach reading and arithmetic. This has helped create child-centered education. -
Maria Montessori
Montessori opened a school in Rome known as the "Children's House". Montessori had an interests in finding solutions for education for children with disabilities. She came up with her method known as the "Montessori Method". This method of education is based on hands-on learning and collaborative play. She soon discovered this worked very well with young children and is now used in more than four thousand early childhood programs today. -
Lyndon B. Johnson
The Head Start program began with federal money that was allocated for preschool education. It was founded by Lyndon B. Johnson and his War on Poverty. Today, Head Start has served more than 30 million low-income families. He also created the federal work-study program and Title I subsidies for poor school districts.