In an era of high-stakes testing and accelerated curricula, it is easy to forget that the word kindergarten means "children's garden." This enchanting 1894 account of Friedrich Froebel, the German inventor of kindergartens, is a refreshing reminder of the essential role of play and creative exploration in the development of children. Froebel was instrumental in bringing kindergartens to the United States and is widely recognized as a pioneer of modern education.
How Kindergarten Came to America is part of a series of classic books in the field of progressive education from The New Press, edited by bestselling author and educator Herbert Kohl. Each of these works, revered by educators for decades and long out of print, is illuminated in a foreword by Kohl showing how it resonates for contemporary teachers, students, and parents.