News

1. Publication of memoir by Joachim Liebschner, Iron Cross Roads. Many will know Joachim Liebschner as the author of two distinguished books on Froebel – A Child’s Work: Freedom and Guidance in Froebel’s Educational Theory and Practice, and Foundations of Progressive Education.
His new book, Iron Cross Roads, is a gripping memoir of his life in pre-war Germany, his involvement in the Hitler Youth, service in the German armed forces, award of the Iron Cross while still a teenager, experiences as a prisoner of war of the Americans and then the British, life in postwar Germany, meeting and marrying his English wife, training as a schoolteacher, discovering Froebel, and becoming the foremost Froebel scholar of his generation.

Nearly 100 invited guests attended a lunchtime event organised by the trustees of the National Froebel Foundation on January 2007 at Froebel College London to celebrate the publication of Iron Cross Roads.

Joachim Liebschner with Raleigh Trevelyan, author of The Fortress

Listening to Joachim Liebschner's address

Joachim Liebschner addressing the company

Joachim Liebschner with Franciska Bayliss, Chair of the NFF and of the IFS

Joachim Liebschner with trustees of the NFF

2. The Voice of the Child: ownership and autonomy in early learning.
How can we know and understand children’s creative and critical thinking? And how can social relationships in early childhood settings support and influence it?

These are the themes of a research project funded by FEI, and an interim report is accessible [HERE]

3. Two PhD bursary awards for 2006-2009 have already been made. These are, respectively, to study ‘transitions’ (home to school, kindergarten to school, etc.), and to investigate the appropriateness of Froebelian principles and practices in different cultural contexts (English and Spanish in particular).

4. The Froebel Research Committee now invites applications for Small Grants (up to £5,000) for pilot studies relating to any aspect of the education of children 0-7 years. These grants are for the academic year 2006-07, and should relate in some way to the ‘Elements of a Froebelian Education for Children 0-7 years’. It is expected that each grant will result in a publication, preferably in a refereed journal, and that they might lead to more substantial research projects in due course. For details on how to apply see Grants. Applications should not exceed 2000 words.

5. The Childcare Bill. The Froebel Research Committee received a very useful critical evaluation of the provisions of the Childcare Bill (which is due to become law in the UK in autumn 2006) in the context of post-war UK legislation, from Peter Elfer, a Senior Lecturer at Roehampton University. It is called From Poor Law to Partnership, from Welfare State to Family State?