August 26, 1873 – The St. Louis school board authorizes the first public kindergarten

 A woman’s trip to Germany transformed education for American children. Susan Blow, an educated woman from Missouri, traveled to Europe on the grand tour in 1871 and, while there, Blow became interested in the work of Friedrich Froebel, a leader in early education who also coined the term “kindergarten” or “children’s garden.” Froebel thought education should start early, through play activities and creative expression.[1]

Susan Elizabeth Blow - image from womenscouncil.org

Though her father offered to fund a private kindergarten, Blow wanted to work in the public school system. With the support of the St. Louis superintendent of schools, William Torrey Harris, Blow studied Froebel’s methods under his disciple, Maria Kraus-Boelte, in New York City for a year. Harris’ reasons for support were slightly less altruistic, as he wanted to keep poor children off the streets of St. Louis and to teach them “habits of cleanliness,” in addition to providing a little education for them.[2] When Blow returned from New York City, the St. Louis school board accepted her offer to direct the first public kindergarten in the United States.

The Des Peres elementary school: home of Blow's kindergarten - image from carondolethisoricalsociety.org

Using Froebel’s methods, Blow’s kindergarten program was so successful that the number of kindergarteners grew from 68 in 1873 to almost 9,000 throughout St. Louis by 1884.[3] There were 53 kindergarten classrooms in St. Louis by 1879.[4]

Des Peres kindergarten classroom - image from historyhappenshere.org

Blow trained other kindergarten teachers, lectured throughout the country, and translated many of Froebel’s works into English. As her obituary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said, Susan Blow’s “name will live as a leader in the mental development of the young.”[5]

Blow’s and Froebel’s methods became the standard in the American public school system.[6] The importance of early childhood education continues to be recognized today. In his most recent State of the Union address, President Obama said, “In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children…studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own.  We know this works.  So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind.”[7]

- Jodi C.

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[1] “Women in History: Susan Blow, Founder of U.S. Kindergartens,” History Happens Here!: The Missouri History Museum’s Blog, accessed August 23, 2013, http://www.historyhappenshere.org/node/6931.

[2] “Women in History: Susan Blow, Founder of U.S. Kindergartens.”

[3] “Women in History: Susan Blow, Founder of U.S. Kindergartens.”

[4] “Susan Blow,” The State Historical Society of Missouri Historic Missourians, accessed August 23, 2013, http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/b/blow/index.html

[5] “Susan E. Blow.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, MO. March 28, 1916. p. 14, col. 3.

[6] ‘Miss Blow Who Put Kindergartens Here, Dies in East’ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 27, 1916, p. 3.

[7] “Obama’s 2013 State of the Union Address,” The New York Times, accessed August 25, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/us/politics/obamas-2013-state-of-the-union-address.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.