The Man Who Started Kindergarten

From the "Because You Just Had to Know Department":

Profile America Thursday, April 21st. Today marks the birthday of a German educator most Americans have never heard of, but whose ideas about how young children learn have had a profound effect on many generations. His name was Friedrich Froebel, born in 1782. He believed that directed play was an important part of each child's education a theory that led to the establishment of the first kindergarten literally, "Children's Garden." The first kindergarten in a U.S. public school opened in Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1873. Today, underlining the acceptance of Froebel's ideas across the country, more than 2.5-million youngsters go to public school kindergarten each day. Another half-million attend private kindergartens.

And now you know. They say that knowing is half the battle.

Make it a great day!