Alice Temple (1871-1946)
A leader in the progressive kindergarten reform movement, Temple'interpreted
John Dewey's philosophy for classroom practice.Temple studied with Anna E. Bryan and worked as a teacher and principal at
the Chicago Free Kindergarten Association ( 1885-1904). She taught, and became
director, of the kindergarten department at the University of Chicago; and organized the first university kindergarten-primary department at the University of
Chicago in 1913 establishing a three-year program, which became a four-year
bachelor's degree program setting a pattern for universities throughout the country.
She was active in the International Kindergarten Union and its successor Association for Childhood Education as committee member, chairperson, and president
( 1925-1927). Temple worked for inclusion of a kindergarten division in the United
States Bureau of Education. She tested unified kindergarten-primary methods at
the University of Chicago laboratory school for eleven years before recommending its adoption in Unified Kindergarten First Grade Teaching. She was also a
successful author, lecturer, and teacher trainer.Temple developed with Samuel Parker a program for early childhood education which was scientific, contemporary, and provided a method that used
problemsolving, skill development, creativity, and habit formation.
PRIMARY SOURCES
| 415. "The Factor of Enviromnent in the Making of a Kindergarten Program". Kindergarten Review 19, no. 17 ( October 1908): 77-81. States that the environment of the kindergarten determines the experiences and the curriculum of the program. Presents three questions to help determine learning experiences and concludes by stating that the kindergarten must connect home and school to ensure that there is no break in the child's development. The kindergarten program must be based on the social and physical environment of the children enrolled in the program. | |
| 416. "Problems in the Administration and Supervision of Student Teaching". Childhood Education 1 ( May 1925): 430-434. A report of responses to a questionnaire on teacher training sent to state Normal Schools and teachers colleges in 1924. Discusses data in terms of three problems: inadequacy of training school facilities; organization of practice teaching; and specific methods of directing practice teaching. Concludes by asking, "Would a handbook on the goals of practice teaching be of value?" | |
| 417. and Parker, Samuel Chester. Unified Kindergarten and First Grade Teaching. Boston: Ginn and Co., 1928. Presents an integrated discussion of |
-107-
