National Kindergarten Day

Kindergarten Day celebrates birthday of Friedrich Froebel who was born in 1782 and started the first kindergarten in 1837, in Germany.  Despite being popular in Germany, the Prussian government outlawed the schools in 1851.  Froebel died a year later and it wasn't until 1860 that the Prussians relented and allowed the schools to continue. 1873 saw the first public kindergarten opened in the United States, in St. Louis.

"Children are like tiny flowers:  They are varied and need care but each is beautiful alone and glorious when seen in the community of peers." -Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852)

Here are some sites to learn more: http://www.froebelweb.org/  http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/pioneers-our-field-friedrich-froebel-founder-first-kindergarten