Maria Kraus-Boelté (1836–1918) was a pioneer of Fröbel education in the United States, and helped promote kindergarten training as suitable for study at university level.
Born to a prosperous family in Hagenow in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, on November 8, 1836, Maria Boelté was privately educated. She became interested in Fröbel education and trained with Luise Fröbel (Fröbel's widow) in Hamburg, before teaching for four years in an English kindergarten run by one of Fröbel's own pupils, Bertha Ronge. Some of her pupils' work was exhibited at the 1862 London International Exhibition. She returned to Hamburg in 1867, then opened her own kindergarten in Lübeck.
In 1868, Elizabeth Peabody invited her to come to Boston, but she refused. In 1872, she was invited again to come to work in New York City where she established a kindergarten class and training program for mothers. She got to know her future husband, Professor John Kraus, an assistant at the National Bureau of Education with whom she had previously corresponded. In 1873 they opened a Seminary for Kindergartners alongside a model kindergarten class, the Normal Training Kindergarten, and published The Kindergarten Guide (two volumes, 1877; new edition, 1905) for "the Self-instruction of Kindergartners, mothers, and nurses."[1]
The Seminary was an early center for Fröbel's ideas in the US, and had considerable influence, especially because of Kraus-Boelté's personal connection with Luise Fröbel. Hundreds of teachers completed the training of one year's course work followed by one year's practice teaching; thousands of children passed through the kindergarten.
Kraus died in 1896 and Maria Kraus-Boelté continued the work alone. She was president of the Kindergarten Department of the National Education Association in 1899–1890 and three years later persuaded the New York University School of Education to include the first ever college level course in kindergarten education in their summer program. Kraus-Boelté herself taught this course three times. She retired in 1913 and died on November 1, 1918, in Atlantic City.[2] Her grave is in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York.
Worksedit
Maria Kraus-Boelté and John Kraus, The Kindergarten Guide (1882), republished by Kindergarten Messenger (January, 2001)
Article in The kindergarten and its relation to elementary education (Chicago 1907)
Characteristics of Froebel's Method, Kindergarten Training in Foster Wygant, Art in American Schools in the Nineteenth Century (Cincinnati 1983) - facsimile of NEA Proceedings (1879)
Some of her work is in the archives of the Association of Childhood Education International:
The Kindergarten and the Mission of Woman: My experience as trainer of kindergarten-teachers in this country. An address., Maria Kraus-Boelté, 1877 (Published as booklet by E.Steiger.)
An Interpretation of Some of the Froebelian Kindergarten Principles, Maria Kraus-Boelté, 1907
The Cincinnati Kindergarten Association has some of her at the Wayback Machine (archived February 4, 2012).
Robert McHenry, ed. (1983). Famous American Women: A Biographical Dictionary from Colonial Times to the Present. Courier Dover Publication. ISBN0486245233.
The Kindergarten in The Galaxy (October 1876)
Edward Wiebe, Paradise of Childhood: a Practical Guide to Kindergartners (1906)
^James, Edward T.; James, Janet Wilson; Boyer, Paul S.; College, Radcliffe (1971). Notable American Women, 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary. Harvard University Press. ISBN978-0-674-62734-5.
^"Mrs. Maria Kraus-Boelte". New-York Tribune. Atlantic City, New Jersey. November 3, 1918. p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
December 15, 2023
maria, kraus, boelté, 1836, 1918, pioneer, fröbel, education, united, states, helped, promote, kindergarten, training, suitable, study, university, level, born, 1836, november, 1836hagenow, grand, duchy, mecklenburg, schwerindiednovember, 1918, 1918, aged, atl. Maria Kraus Boelte 1836 1918 was a pioneer of Frobel education in the United States and helped promote kindergarten training as suitable for study at university level Maria Kraus BoelteBorn 1836 11 08 November 8 1836Hagenow Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg SchwerinDiedNovember 1 1918 1918 11 01 aged 81 Atlantic City New JerseyResting placeWoodlawn CemeteryOccupationEducatorSpouseJohn Kraus m 1873 died 1896 wbr Signature Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography editBorn to a prosperous family in Hagenow in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Schwerin on November 8 1836 Maria Boelte was privately educated She became interested in Frobel education and trained with Luise Frobel Frobel s widow in Hamburg before teaching for four years in an English kindergarten run by one of Frobel s own pupils Bertha Ronge Some of her pupils work was exhibited at the 1862 London International Exhibition She returned to Hamburg in 1867 then opened her own kindergarten in Lubeck In 1868 Elizabeth Peabody invited her to come to Boston but she refused In 1872 she was invited again to come to work in New York City where she established a kindergarten class and training program for mothers She got to know her future husband Professor John Kraus an assistant at the National Bureau of Education with whom she had previously corresponded In 1873 they opened a Seminary for Kindergartners alongside a model kindergarten class the Normal Training Kindergarten and published The Kindergarten Guide two volumes 1877 new edition 1905 for the Self instruction of Kindergartners mothers and nurses 1 The Seminary was an early center for Frobel s ideas in the US and had considerable influence especially because of Kraus Boelte s personal connection with Luise Frobel Hundreds of teachers completed the training of one year s course work followed by one year s practice teaching thousands of children passed through the kindergarten Kraus died in 1896 and Maria Kraus Boelte continued the work alone She was president of the Kindergarten Department of the National Education Association in 1899 1890 and three years later persuaded the New York University School of Education to include the first ever college level course in kindergarten education in their summer program Kraus Boelte herself taught this course three times She retired in 1913 and died on November 1 1918 in Atlantic City 2 Her grave is in Woodlawn Cemetery New York Works editMaria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus The Kindergarten Guide 1882 republished by Kindergarten Messenger January 2001 Full text online Article in The kindergarten and its relation to elementary education Chicago 1907 Characteristics of Froebel s Method Kindergarten Training in Foster Wygant Art in American Schools in the Nineteenth Century Cincinnati 1983 facsimile of NEA Proceedings 1879 Some of her work is in the archives of the Association of Childhood Education International The Kindergarten and the Mission of Woman My experience as trainer of kindergarten teachers in this country An address Maria Kraus Boelte 1877 Published as booklet by E Steiger An Interpretation of Some of the Froebelian Kindergarten Principles Maria Kraus Boelte 1907The Cincinnati Kindergarten Association has some of her lesson plans and other papers at the Wayback Machine archived February 4 2012 See also editSusan Blow Elizabeth HarrisonReferences editRobert McHenry ed 1983 Famous American Women A Biographical Dictionary from Colonial Times to the Present Courier Dover Publication ISBN 0486245233 The Kindergarten in The Galaxy October 1876 Edward Wiebe Paradise of Childhood a Practical Guide to Kindergartners 1906 Women of Woodlawn James Edward T James Janet Wilson Boyer Paul S College Radcliffe 1971 Notable American Women 1607 1950 A Biographical Dictionary Harvard University Press ISBN 978 0 674 62734 5 Mrs Maria Kraus Boelte New York Tribune Atlantic City New Jersey November 3 1918 p 11 Retrieved August 23 2020 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maria Kraus Boelte amp oldid 1183100475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
