let us live for our children

"Let us live for our children" was the motto of Freidrich Froebel, inventor of Kindergarten, and when Uno Cygnaeus began the Finnish Folk Schools in 1866, he followed Froebel as his mentor and inspiration. To bring hands-on activities beyond the kindergarten years, he began the development of educational sloyd, which is still compulsory in Finland's schools. Cygnaeus is largely responsible for the culture of learning that is also the key to Finland's school success story. It all goes back to the simple motto, "Let us live for our children." The schools we have in the United States are evidence that we often do not.

The photo above shows the current 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade woodworking project, making boats. The small propeller on each boat was a design idea suggested by one of the students.