Clarence Edward Beeby

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Recommended: the philosophers that developed early childhood education.

‘The Kindergartens were becoming extraordinarily organised. Their day was chopped into little bits as it was in school. They were becoming rigid…I wanted to see what would happen if you took thirty kids, if you didn’t organise them, but if you gave them facilities for play…It was absolutely fascinating’ (Beeby, 1990, as cited in May, 2013, p. 341). Clarence Edward Beeby was a New Zealand educationalist and a very influential man who helped shape Education to what it is now. This essay will illustrate how he was a strong and key advocate for children learning through play and how he believed that every child deserved and had a right to a free education. Throughout this essay, it will also emphasize how his ideas and beliefs still have relevance to current Early Childhood Education and how his proposals are still being enforced today.
Clarence Edward Beeby (16 June 1902- 10 March 1998) was born in Meanwood, Yorkshire and emigrated with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand in 1906 at the age of four. Beeby attended New Brighton School and Christchurch Boys High School, and initially studied Law at Canterbury College before becoming interested and involved in Primary School Teaching at Christchurch Training College (Wikipedia, 2013). Throughout his career Beeby became not only an ‘internationally respected educational leader, but also an educational psychologist, university lecturer, and ambassador’ (Gibbs, 2006). Due to Beeby’s determination and willingness to be innovative and to take risks, in 1938 he was appointed Director of Education in New Zealand which was a huge accomplishment.
Beeby had always been interested in the idea of children learning through play, however he first became involved in this concept in 1932 when the...

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...d support them in the decision that they do make. I also have to take into consideration that every child, no matter the circumstances are entitled to an education.
In conclusion, throughout his life Clarence Beeby had a huge impact on education throughout his time, which is still being demonstrated in todays current early childhood services. He was a very influential man and was enthusiastic in his ideas and hopes. These included his interest in children learning through play and his belief that every child had a right to a free education. Gradually his ideas are becoming more familiar over time and more children are becoming involved in early childhood services which have a positive impact on the child as Beeby believed as the child is able to learn social and independence skills. His legacy and ideas will continue to be demonstrated in future education services.

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