ERIC Number: ED334000
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1990-Apr
Pages: 54
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Historical Overview of the Development of Early Childhood Services.
Shimoni, Rena
This paper reviews the development of infant schools, day nurseries, kindergarten, nursery schools, and Head Start, and discusses the implications of these services for present-day policy. The philosophy and pedagogy of infant schools, their origins, and their development in North America, are described. Also discussed are the origins of day nurseries and the influence of social work on day nurseries. The religious background of the kindergarten movement, the growth of kindergarten in the United States, and the transition of kindergarten into the public schools, are discussed. The origins and development of nursery schools are traced, and their theoretical foundations are considered. The historical background of Head Start, the goals of the program, its methods of implementation, and the impact of evaluative research on its development, are considered. The paper concludes that while an emphasis on the common goals of all provisions for preschool children may ease the formulation of social policy, due consideration should be given to the unique contributions of each. An extensive list of references is included. (BC)
Publication Type: Historical Materials; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A