Froebelian Implications in Texts of Early Childhood Songs Published Near the Turn of the Century

Abstract

Genuine Froebelian implications in early childhood song texts depend upon the extent to which they adhere to Friedrich Froebel' s goals and purposes, rather than whether they refer to him or paraphrase his material. Turn-of-the-century songs sometimes neglect genuinely childlike, and thus Froebelian, considerations. Even the most important revision of Froebel' s Mother-Play and Nursery Songs, Susan Blow' s The Songs and Music of Froebel' s Mother-Play, leaves something to be desired in genuine Froebelian philosophical thought. Texts that deal with religion, morality, and ethics tend to tell rather than to suggest subtly and therefore miss a fundamental Froebelian methodological point. Only those song texts that accurately reflect Froebel' s teachings, philosophy, and methodology have truly Froebelian implications.