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We are not yet sure about the chronology of pre-schools in America, but it is a subject we are working on. Surely some were established during the 19th century, but we have not yet found photographic evidence of 19th century day care. Of course the Dame school was a form of pre-school, but we are not sure how prevalent that was in America. Child day care and early education was mostly done in the home. Grandmothers often played an important role. There may have been some informal efforts in the homes of neighbors. We suspect that by the late-19th century there may have been a few nursery schools in the big cities, but it was not very common. Here factors such as demographics (large rural populations), social norms, and the limited percentage of working mothers were all factors. This changed after the turn-of-the 20th century when we begin to see pre-schools appearing in greater numbers. A major factor here was the increasing urbanization of the United States. The 1920s were the first decade in which the majority of the population lived in cities and small towns. We begin to see Kindergartens increasingly being established as part of the public school systems, but pre-schools for younger children remained primarily in the public sector. The early pre-schools seem to be in working-class neighborhoods here it was more common for mothers to work. any more affluent mothers did not work and could often afford help in the home. As more and more mothers worked, the demand for pre-schools grew. This was especially the case during World War I and World War II. Many women worked outside the home for the first time during World War II. There were also experiments during the Depression. After World War II the increasing involvement of women in the work force greatly expanded the need for day care. America still does not have publicly funded pre-schools. And it is a major expense for American families.
We are not yet sure about the chronology of pre-schools in America, but it is a subject we are working on. Surely some were established during the 19th century, but we have not yet found photographic evidence of 19th century day care. Of course the Dame school was a form of pre-school, but we are not sure how prevalent that was in America. Child day care and early education was mostly done in the home. Grandmothers often played an important role. There may have been some informal efforts in the homes of neighbors. We suspect that by the late-19th century there may have been a few nursery schools in the big cities, but it was not very common. Here factors such as demographics (large rural populations), social norms, and the limited percentage of working mothers were all factors.
The prevalence of pre-schools in America began changing after the turn-of-the 20th century. We begin to see pre-schools appearing for the first time in any number. Kindergatrens were the first pre-schools to be established in any number. Pre-schools for younger children were slower to develop, but we do begin to see some. A major factor here was the increasing urbanization of the United States. American cities were expanding at record rate. This was because of the rapid growth of America's industrial economy and the flow of European immigrants. And for the first time we have substantial photographic evidence. Here we have a good example, we think from the 1910s (figure 1). Unfortunately we have no details about it. The 1920s were the first decade in which the majority of the population lived in cities and small towns. We begin to see Kindergartens increasingly being established as part of the public school systems, but pre-schools for younger children remained primarily in the public sector. The early pre-schools seem to be in working-class neighborhoods here it was more common for mothers to work. any more affluent mothers did not work and could often afford help in the home. As more and more mothers worked, the demand for pre-schools grew. This was especially the case during World War I and World War II. Many women worked outside the home for the first time during World War II. There were also experiments by the New Deal's Works Progress Administration during the Depression. After World War II the increasing involvement of women in the work force greatly expanded the need for day care. The problem was that daycare can be very expensive, virtually unavoidable for working-class families, let alone single women. A better case can be made for pre-schooling than many of the higher-profile issues the Progressives in America tend to launch onto in heir campaign to change America. Unfortunately the media and leftist forces can generate wide spread support for destructive nonsense like 'Defund the Police', but not for pre-schools which might actually change peoples' lives for the better. America still does not have publicly funded pre-schools. And it continues to be a major expense for American families, unaffordable in many cases.
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