History

Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852), the great German educator, is famous pre-eminently for his radical insight that the first learning experiences of the very young are of crucial importance in influencing not only their later educational achievements but also the health and development of society as a whole. He devised a set of principles and practices which would form part of an interactive educational process to take place in institutions which in 1840 he named ‘kindergarten’.

In August 1851, the Prussian government ordered the closure of all kindergartens, fearing that their encouragement of the free development of children’s faculties was a contributory factor to the radical democratic movement which had recently threatened to topple the government. The result was that many committed kindergarten teachers took their enthusiasm and methods abroad, many coming to England, where the first kindergarten was established in Tavistock Place, central London, soon afterwards. Then, in 1874, the Froebel Society for the promotion of the Kindergarten System was formed, in Kensington.

A strong proponent of the Froebel system of education was Julia Salis Schwabe (1819-1896), widow of a Manchester industrialist, Unitarian and educational benefactor. She had discovered Froebel’s philosophy during her travels in the German states, and had come to see it as the key to social progress. In 1884 she introduced Claude Montefiore (1858-1938), son of a friend of hers, to the Froebel Society, and he became Secretary almost immediately. Another Manchester industrialist and friend of Julia Salis Schwabe who also became closely associated with the Froebel movement in England was William Mather (1838-1920).

Having established a successful kindergarten and school in Naples, Mrs Salis Schwabe proposed the establishment of a training college with a ‘demonstration school’ in England. As a result, the Froebel Educational Institute was inaugurated in October 1892 at a meeting in the Westminster Palace Hotel. William Mather became the first Chairman, followed in 1920 by Claude Montefiore. The first Principal was Madame Michaelis (1834-1904), who had worked in kindergartens abroad and had jointly founded the Croydon Kindergarten in 1875. As Patroness, Mrs Salis Schwabe secured the services of Her Imperial Majesty the Dowager Empress Frederick (1840-1901), the eldest child of Queen Victoria.

After building delays, the college and school finally opened, in Colet Gardens, Talgarth Road, West Kensington, on 20th September 1894, and the Grand Opening by the Empress Frederick took place on 5th March 1895. The financial deficits were met by Claude Montefiore and Mrs Salis Schwabe.

Froebel College

In January 1922 Froebel College, in need of more space and keen to acquire residential accommodation for students, moved to its current location in Grove House, Roehampton Lane, London SW15, where it remains today.

In 1975 it federated with three other local colleges to become Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, and since August 2004 it has been an integral part of Roehampton University, which now holds the property on a 999-year lease.

The Early Childhood Research Centre [ECRC] at the College is very active in research, and publishes regular Newsletters, which can be accessed here.

Froebel Archives

On January 28th 2008 two major Froebel archives were for the first time brought together and opened in a new location – the remodelled Archives and Special Collections floor of the Roehampton University Library in SW London. These together now provide a unique and accessible resource for students and researchers into the history of the Froebel movement in the UK.

The two archives are:

The Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies and
The National Froebel Foundation Archive.

Ibstock Place School

The school is no longer a 'demonstration school', and, having moved in 1946 to its current location in Clarence Lane, Roehampton SW15, is a successful independent school taking pupils from 3-18 called Ibstock Place School. However, it still maintains a kindergarten section for the youngest children.

Froebel Research Committee

Since 1980, the Froebel Educational Institute has also had an active Research Committee, which each year distributes funds in support of research into educational issues.

National Froebel Foundation

The legacy of the original Froebel Society today is the National Froebel Foundation, which promotes Froebelian values through various small grants in various ways, and it supports the International Froebel Society which arranges a biennial international conference to promote Froebelian principles and practice.

For a fuller account of the life of Friedrich Froebel, see Friedrich Froebel: His Life, Times & Significance, by Peter Weston (Roehampton Institute London, 2nd Edn, 2000, £3.00 + £1 p&p), or click [here] to read a pdf version.
For the history of the Froebel Educational Institute see the same author’s The Froebel Educational Institute: the Origins and History of the College (University of Surrey Roehampton, 2002, £7.99 + £1.50 p&p).
Both books may be obtained in the UK from zen141747@zen.co.uk.