Kindergarten and nursery schools seems to have ideas and procedures in common but also very distinct differences in their origins, purposes and executions. Please compare and contrast kindergarten and nursery schools.
A more formal response to follow: Similarities Used as teacher training Both evolved and were built upon Some were parts of universities Both viewed as social reforms Curriculum Started in other countries and was brought over to America (K=Germany; Nursery school=England) Periodicals=Kindergarten Messenger magazines Both used blocks Free or charity kindergartens
Differences kindergarten Purpose is get ready for school Become integrated with public school kindergarten-primary Based on Froebel Americanize foreigners
Nursery school Nurses and daily inspections Included a wider age range of students 18 months to seven Training by apprenticeship in the beginning Socialist bent Parenting education stronger focus of physical aspect purpose was to watch children as parents worked
Kindergartens and nursery schools were brought to the United States from other countries. Kindergarten originated in Germany under Froebel. Many Germans moved to the USA and set up kindergartens as well as Americans visiting Germany and bringing back the institution. Nursery schools originated in England under the McMillan sisters. Their ideas were transported across the sea. Abigail Adams Eliot was sent to England for the express purpose to create a nursery school (Ruggles Street) in Boston.
Both nursery schools and kindergarten used the programs for teacher training. In the beginning nursery schools followed more of an apprenticeship model, but later changed to offering subject classes and practicum in the schools. Kindergarten has mainly used that philosophy. Furthermore, both institutions have been part of the universities to add in the dissemination of philosophy and practice. Edna White established relationships with colleges and universities to create cooperative programs. Gessell at Yale University established the Guidance Nursery to observe and document child development. On the kindergarten side, Dewey created the Lab School at the University of Chicago for similar purposes.
As kindergartens and nursery schools were brought over there purpose was to bring social reform. If we can education children earlier from all walks of life, give children that added boost, change in society will come. As these organizations matured, newer ideas were added to the philosophy. Peabody took the Froebel’s ideas to the liberal side of interpretation. Kindergarten was also combined with the primary grades for better continuity. Kindergartens also became free of charge to parents as the years went on like nursery schools though sometimes nursery schools had a sliding pay scale. Nursery schools have evolved to include more children and into child care of today.
Curriculum and schedules were important to both institutions. Both had set philosophies that were followed.
Differences Despite many similarities, distinct differences are the foundations to the organizations. Kindergarten is based on Froebel’s philosophy and though adapted through time still provides strong keystone to today’s kindergarten. Nursery schools have a socialist underpinning in their creators and implementers, the McMillians as well as the American movement.
Kindergarten’s purpose is to get children ready for school though a spiritual whole child approach where self-activity and play act as teachers. Kindergarten also became integrated with public school in kindergarten-primary classes. Nursery schools have never been part of the school system. It does have a strong focus on the physical aspect of development. Nursery schools had physicians and nurses on staff for daily inspections and illnesses as well as provide proper hygiene and nutrition to its children.
An Additional goal of kindergarten was to “Americanize” the large influx of foreigners and teach the young the culture of the United States. One main purpose of the nursery school was to watch children so parents could work and keep the children out of poor living conditions most of the day. In addition nursery schools seemed to have included a wider age range of students ranging from 18 months to seven.
The last difference noted was the focus of parenting education. This dimension of the nursery school was a vital component to the organization: teaching parents how to take care and teach their children at home.
Kindergarten and nursery school programs evolved in the United States when the country began to understand the benefits of providing quality education services for young children. These programs have many similarities despite the different philosophies and goals of the educators supporting these views of instructing children.
Both programs have their beginnings in Europe. England is the birthplace of the nursery school. Grace Owen and the McMillan sisters are credited for this early childhood program. These founders decided to develop a program to target children who did not have the same opportunities at home as other children. Consequently, the goals of the nursery school were to provide not only educational services to the children but also to provide programs that would help inform the participants about hygiene and nutrition which including serving food during the school day.
Kindergarten has its roots in Germany with the educator Froebel. Froebel believed that children needed to have opportunities to interact with various objects (gifts) to help prepare them for later learning. Another component of Froebel’s program included music.
Another similarity in these programs relates to the training of new teachers. In both early kindergartens and nursery schools, often the training of preservice teachers occurred on the site of the program and by current teachers. As these programs gained popularity, the education of feature teachers often moved to institutions of higher education. Teachers training for nursery school programs however often took classes from childcare or home economic educators instead of education faculty.
Both kindergarten and nursery schools had private institutions where parents were charged a fee to send their child to the program. In addition, both programs had charity or free programs. As kindergarten gained support from educators and parents, public programs found their way into many school districts. Two other types of nursery schools included laboratory schools where children not only participated in the regular program but were also part of the ongoing research of the particular institution. The other type or program called parent-cooperative, allowed parents to take an active role in the leadership of the school and the activities.
Despite the differences already articulated above, another difference relates to the variation of the curriculum among programs. When kindergarten was first introduced in the United States, these schools strictly adhered to Froebel’s ideas about educating young children. It was not until the progressive movement when a schism formed and kindergarten programs began to vary. The nursery school movement differed greatly. From the beginning, these programs did not have a consistent curriculum and the director of the program influenced what activities the children engaged in during their time at school.
3 comments:
A more formal response to follow:
Similarities
Used as teacher training
Both evolved and were built upon
Some were parts of universities
Both viewed as social reforms
Curriculum
Started in other countries and was brought over to America (K=Germany; Nursery school=England)
Periodicals=Kindergarten Messenger
magazines
Both used blocks
Free or charity kindergartens
Differences
kindergarten
Purpose is get ready for school
Become integrated with public school kindergarten-primary
Based on Froebel
Americanize foreigners
Nursery school
Nurses and daily inspections
Included a wider age range of students 18 months to seven
Training by apprenticeship in the beginning
Socialist bent
Parenting education
stronger focus of physical aspect
purpose was to watch children as parents worked
Similarities
Kindergartens and nursery schools were brought to the United States from other countries. Kindergarten originated in Germany under Froebel. Many Germans moved to the USA and set up kindergartens as well as Americans visiting Germany and bringing back the institution. Nursery schools originated in England under the McMillan sisters. Their ideas were transported across the sea. Abigail Adams Eliot was sent to England for the express purpose to create a nursery school (Ruggles Street) in Boston.
Both nursery schools and kindergarten used the programs for teacher training. In the beginning nursery schools followed more of an apprenticeship model, but later changed to offering subject classes and practicum in the schools. Kindergarten has mainly used that philosophy. Furthermore, both institutions have been part of the universities to add in the dissemination of philosophy and practice. Edna White established relationships with colleges and universities to create cooperative programs. Gessell at Yale University established the Guidance Nursery to observe and document child development. On the kindergarten side, Dewey created the Lab School at the University of Chicago for similar purposes.
As kindergartens and nursery schools were brought over there purpose was to bring social reform. If we can education children earlier from all walks of life, give children that added boost, change in society will come. As these organizations matured, newer ideas were added to the philosophy. Peabody took the Froebel’s ideas to the liberal side of interpretation. Kindergarten was also combined with the primary grades for better continuity. Kindergartens also became free of charge to parents as the years went on like nursery schools though sometimes nursery schools had a sliding pay scale. Nursery schools have evolved to include more children and into child care of today.
Curriculum and schedules were important to both institutions. Both had set philosophies that were followed.
Differences
Despite many similarities, distinct differences are the foundations to the organizations. Kindergarten is based on Froebel’s philosophy and though adapted through time still provides strong keystone to today’s kindergarten. Nursery schools have a socialist underpinning in their creators and implementers, the McMillians as well as the American movement.
Kindergarten’s purpose is to get children ready for school though a spiritual whole child approach where self-activity and play act as teachers. Kindergarten also became integrated with public school in kindergarten-primary classes. Nursery schools have never been part of the school system. It does have a strong focus on the physical aspect of development. Nursery schools had physicians and nurses on staff for daily inspections and illnesses as well as provide proper hygiene and nutrition to its children.
An Additional goal of kindergarten was to “Americanize” the large influx of foreigners and teach the young the culture of the United States. One main purpose of the nursery school was to watch children so parents could work and keep the children out of poor living conditions most of the day. In addition nursery schools seemed to have included a wider age range of students ranging from 18 months to seven.
The last difference noted was the focus of parenting education. This dimension of the nursery school was a vital component to the organization: teaching parents how to take care and teach their children at home.
Kindergarten and Nursery School Programs
Kindergarten and nursery school programs evolved in the United States when the country began to understand the benefits of providing quality education services for young children. These programs have many similarities despite the different philosophies and goals of the educators supporting these views of instructing children.
Both programs have their beginnings in Europe. England is the birthplace of the nursery school. Grace Owen and the McMillan sisters are credited for this early childhood program. These founders decided to develop a program to target children who did not have the same opportunities at home as other children. Consequently, the goals of the nursery school were to provide not only educational services to the children but also to provide programs that would help inform the participants about hygiene and nutrition which including serving food during the school day.
Kindergarten has its roots in Germany with the educator Froebel. Froebel believed that children needed to have opportunities to interact with various objects (gifts) to help prepare them for later learning. Another component of Froebel’s program included music.
Another similarity in these programs relates to the training of new teachers. In both early kindergartens and nursery schools, often the training of preservice teachers occurred on the site of the program and by current teachers. As these programs gained popularity, the education of feature teachers often moved to institutions of higher education. Teachers training for nursery school programs however often took classes from childcare or home economic educators instead of education faculty.
Both kindergarten and nursery schools had private institutions where parents were charged a fee to send their child to the program. In addition, both programs had charity or free programs. As kindergarten gained support from educators and parents, public programs found their way into many school districts. Two other types of nursery schools included laboratory schools where children not only participated in the regular program but were also part of the ongoing research of the particular institution. The other type or program called parent-cooperative, allowed parents to take an active role in the leadership of the school and the activities.
Despite the differences already articulated above, another difference relates to the variation of the curriculum among programs. When kindergarten was first introduced in the United States, these schools strictly adhered to Froebel’s ideas about educating young children. It was not until the progressive movement when a schism formed and kindergarten programs began to vary. The nursery school movement differed greatly. From the beginning, these programs did not have a consistent curriculum and the director of the program influenced what activities the children engaged in during their time at school.
Post a Comment