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Who is Froebel? |
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Friedrich Froebel (1782 – 1852) coined the word “Kindergarten”. He was a German philosopher and educator who refused to accept the idea that young children’s first years at school had to be fearful or boring. He chose the phrase “children’s garden” precisely because he believed that children, like plants, would grow and unfold by their own inner laws, each according to their individual needs and potential, given the right conditions. He opened the first Kindergarten in Germany in 1837. Froebel stressed that play is the work of children, but he also stressed the need for guidance from qualified adults to meet the educational needs of children. What has happened in the late twentieth century is that in many kindergartens (started originally in this country by Froebel’s followers) teachers apply only part of his philosophy. They encourage play, but only for the purpose of socialization. They ignore that Froebel intended play to be a means of not only affective (feelings) learning, but also of cognitive learning (intellect). |
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About Us |
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LeRoux Froebel Bilingual School operates in the Beach area of Toronto year round. We have two Divisions—Child Care and Private School—which offer various programs for children 18 months to 12 years of age. Our facility is open from 7:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. We are closed for one week between Christmas and the New Year, Easter Monday, the August Civic Holiday, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving Day. We are open during March Break for those in need of full-time care, and on all school professional development days. LeRoux Froebel will close at 12:00pm on December 24th and reopen on the first business day after NewYear’s Day at 7:30am. |
