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Friedrich FrobelGerman teacher
Date of Birth: 21.04.1782
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Friedrich Froebel
Early Life and EducationFriedrich Froebel was a German educator and disciple of Pestalozzi. He laid the foundation for the modern education system, creating educational courses based on the unique needs and abilities of children. It was Froebel who first introduced the concept of kindergartens, and he was the one to use the term 'kindergarten' for the first time. He was born in Oberweissbach, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Thuringia. His father was a priest in the local Lutheran church, and both the church and the Lutheran faith played a significant role in his early life. Oberweissbach was a prosperous village known for its abundant medicinal herbs, which the local residents used to make various remedies. Each family owned their own forested plot, and the recipes for the remedies they produced for sale varied greatly between families. When Froebel was just 9 months old, his mother passed away, which had a profound impact on his life. At the age of 10, Froebel moved to Stadt-Ilm, where his uncle resided. His uncle was a gentle and loving person who greatly influenced the young Friedrich.
Early Career
With a natural curiosity about nature, Froebel became an apprentice to a forester at the age of 15. However, in 1799, he decided to leave this occupation and pursue the study of mathematics and botany at Jena. From 1802 to 1805, Froebel worked as a surveyor. In 1805, he secured a position in one of Frankfurt's schools, where he was introduced to Pestalozzi's works. Later, Froebel had the opportunity to work with Pestalozzi himself in Switzerland. In 1806, Froebel became a teacher in a noble household in Frankfurt. In 1811, he resumed his studies, which he had previously abandoned due to financial problems. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his education and obtain an official diploma. Soon after, Froebel found a position in one of the top schools for boys in Berlin.
Military Service and Later Life
In 1813 and 1814, Froebel served in the Lutzeow Free Corps, where he met and befriended theologian and teacher Wilhelm Middendorf and teacher Heinrich Langethal. After his military service, Froebel returned to civilian life. He briefly worked at a mineralogical museum before moving to Ilmtal, Arnstadt, Thuringia, where he established a new educational institution. Within a year, Froebel moved once again. In 1831, he passed on his work to Langethal and Middendorf. Froebel married Wilhelmine Henriette Hoffmeister on September 11, 1818, but they did not have any children. Wilhelmine passed away in 1839. In 1851, Froebel remarried. His most important work, "The Education of Man," was published in 1826. From 1831 to 1836, Froebel lived in Switzerland. Upon returning to Germany, he focused on early childhood education, developing a series of educational toys during this period. Froebel introduced the term "kindergarten" in 1840. Friedrich Froebel passed away on June 21, 1852, in Marienthal at the age of 70.
