Contribution of froebel in the field of education
Answers
He has shown the right road for further advance.” Froebel has greatly influenced posterity by his revolutionary and far-reaching educational ideas. He always tried to systematize, symbolize, idealize, realize and recognize identities and analogies among all facts and phenomena of the universe. He made life “more simple and clear and more recognizable.” He had a clear perception of universal truth. He had unlimited enthusiasm for the education and happiness of humanity. Froebel advocated a unique educational enterprise — the Kindergarten. It has now been universally recognized and introduced by almost all the progressive countries of the world. Many educational practices of the schools today can be traced back to the cult of Kindergarten. He gave emphasis on the child — his interests and tendencies — who hitherto was largely neglected. He made the child the center of his education. He is regarded as one of the great exponents of child-centric education. Before Froebel, the curricula and the teacher dominated the educational arena. Froebel attached immense importance to the native capacities of children and advocated sympathetic regard for these. He also laid emphasis on the receptivity and active nature of the child. This aspect of the child Froebel called “self-activity”. He realized the value of discovering and developing the individuality of the child. He introduced the principle of creativity in modern education through arts and crafts (paper-cutting, clay- modelling etc.). The theory of formal discipline was discarded by Froebel. He advised to give up the traditional concept of discipline in schools. He was in favor of “free discipline” in schools. Froebel attached great importance to the principle of activity. This has now been universally accepted. It was Froebel who realized the full social significance of education. To him, the school was a society in miniature. It has social relevance. He held the view that education is growth from within. This view has tremendously influenced the later educational theory and practice. He opposed verbalism and vindicated the doctrine that acquisition of knowledge is not the end of education but the means to end. He recognized the importance of play, self-activity, learning by doing, creative work and social participation in education.
Answer:
His most important contribution to educational theory was his belief in “self-activity” and play as essential factors in child education. The teacher's role was not to drill or indoctrinate the children but rather to encourage their self-expression through play, both individually and in group activities.