LEOPOLDINA MALUSCHKA

Promoter of the right of boys and girls to quality education as a way to their
comprehensive development.

Source: Photographic Collection Gabriela Mistral Museum of Education

Biography:
Leopoldina Maluschka was born in Austria on October 18, 1862. In 1878 she obtained her
degree as a Kindergarten teacher at the Royal and Imperial Normal School of Graz, and a few
years later, in 1894, at the Vienna Conservatory, she complemented her training with the title
of teacher of Singing, Theory, Harmony and History of music. In 1899, her sister invited her to
be part of the educational projects that the Chilean government was promoting. Leopoldina
arrived in the country at a time when there was a broad discussion about the national
educational system, and thanks to her contribution to this discussion, preschool education
became increasingly important (Today we talk about pre-basic education, since this period is
considered another stage of school education). In Chile she began her long career as a
pedagogue and trainer of early childhood educators. He died in Santiago on March 8, 1954,
aged 91.

Throughout her career as a pedagogue, Leopoldina Maluschka became one of the most
prominent promoters and promoters of the right to preschool education in Chile. In addition to
her training work, she stood out for her work in the creation and organization of the teachers'
union. The purpose of this organization was to defend the importance of their profession and
carry out different tasks of disseminating knowledge and social assistance. Through her
academic work, presented at conferences and specialized publications, and her management
in the organization and presentation of proposals, Leopoldina sought to raise awareness and
disseminate knowledge about the teaching of younger children and its social relevance. He
linked his efforts for quality state preschool education to the fight against the vicious circle in
which the poorest boys and girls in the country were raised.

In 1906, as manager and teacher of the Normal Kindergarten Course of the Normal School of
Preceptors, she organized a course for the training of kindergarteners, which meant the first
systematization of teaching for preschool education in the country. At the IV National Scientific
Congress in 1908, he spoke to his peers about the importance of Kindergarten for the
development of boys and girls and social progress. The following year, in a publication he
authored, he established the principles for Early Childhood Education. In 1910 he led the
creation of the Popular Kindergarten for boys and girls from vulnerable families. Although 237
infants were cared for, in 1914 these establishments closed. This motivated Maluschka to
participate in the founding of the Red Cross of Kindergarten Teachers, an organization that
dedicated its efforts to visiting tenements and providing care to abandoned girls and boys.

In 1919 he presented a project to create a national program of continuing studies, highlighting

the role of Early Childhood Education in the teaching-learning process. In 1928, the
government gave him the Citizenship Charter so that he could contribute to the instruction
and improvement of early childhood education. In 1933 he founded the private Preschool
Education Institute, and tried unsuccessfully to create its state counterpart. In 1940, as a
 kindergarten inspector at the José Abelardo Núñez Higher Normal School, she presented a
project for the training of Preschool Education teachers, which would last two years. The
following year he founded the Kindergarten in the Application School Annexed to the Normal
School. In 1948 she was named honorary president of the Federico Froebel Studies Center,
created by the School of Early Childhood Educators of the University of Chile.

Throughout her life, Leopoldina Maluschka worked for the right of boys and girls to quality
education as an essential means of overcoming poverty. The Kinderganten Popular profoundly
marked the field of preschool education and laid the foundations for the subsequent
consolidation of the Early Childhood Education system in Chile. Its work continues in force,
materialized in institutions such as the National Board of Kindergartens (Junji), created in 1970,
whose main mission is to provide quality initial education to boys and girls, preferably under
four years of age, who live in vulnerable conditions. in all the country. On the other hand, the
Law enacted in 2007 is also part of its legacy, which constitutionally guarantees the coverage
of Preschool Education in Chile.

Sources:

Alarcón, D. (1986). Evolution of the concept of Early Childhood Education in Chile from 1906 to
1956. In Perspectiva Magazine, 2, p. 27.
Labarca, A. (1939). History of teaching in Chile. Santiago: University.
Peralta, M. v. (2006). One hundred years of Early Childhood Education in the public system
(1906-2006). Santiago: LOM Editions.
Peralta, M. v. (2008). The right of the little ones to a pedagogy of opportunities in the 21st
century. In Ibero-American Journal of Education, 47, 33-47.

Chronology:
1862 Born in Austria on October 18
1878 She obtained the title of Kindergarten Teacher at the Royal and Imperial Normal School of
Graz.
1894 She obtained the title of “Professor of Singing, Theory, Harmony and History of Music” at
the Vienna Conservatory.
1895 At the age of 32, she married Andrés Trupp Weber
1900 On January 20, Leopoldina and her family arrive in Chile from Bremen
1900 – 1902 She works as a private singing teacher in the city of Valdivia.
1902 – 1906 Obtains the position of Music Teacher at the Liceo de Cauquenes.
1906 – 1914 By decree, she is appointed Regent and Teacher of the Normal Kindergarten Course of the
Normal School of Preceptors No. 1 of Santiago. At the same time, she works as a professor
of Music History at the National Conservatory, at the Lyceum of Application and at the
Lyceum No. 1 for Girls.
1908 With Leopoldina at the head, the “National Kindergarten Association” was organized as a
specialized academic branch of the National Education Association.
1908 Leopoldina participated in the IV National Scientific Congress with the presentation “The
importance of Kindergarten.”
1909 The book “Kindergarten, its organization, adoption, and installation in Chile and the other
countries of South America” was published, a historical review and methodological
approaches for preschool education in Chile.
1910 The first issue of the specialized magazine “El Kindergarten Nacional” appears, within the
framework of the celebrations for the Centennial of Independence. The “National Association of
Kindergartianas” is founded, a union organization that will carry out important social assistance
work. Leopoldina founded the “Popular Kindergarten”, with the help of the Kindergartian
Association and the students of her course.
1914 The government makes the decision to close the existing Kindergartens in the country, on
the recommendation of the General Visitor of Kindergartens, and probably due to budgetary
problems related to the First World War.
With the help of her professional colleagues, Leopoldina created the “Red Cross of
Kindergarten Teachers” society, dedicated to the care of the most vulnerable boys and girls
in the city.
1915 The first issue of the “Magazine of Early Childhood and Women's Education” appears, as a
continuation of the magazine “El Kindergarten Nacional”.
By decree of the Primary Education Inspection, Mixed School No. 239 of Santiago is
created, where Leopoldina is appointed Director, to continue teaching Kindergarten in this
school.
1919 As a synthesis of his postulates, he presents to the Education managers of that time, a
“Teaching continuity project” in the public system.
1929 – 1930 He published a book, in two volumes, with children's songs, and their piano
accompaniment, material that served as support for Kindergarten classes.
1928 Receive the Citizenship Letter from the government.
1933 He created the “Institute of Preschool Education” and dedicated all his efforts to the
creation, by the State, of an “Institute of Early Childhood Education.”
1935 He continues with his specialized publications, with the “Kindergarten” magazine series.
1940 During the Government of Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Leopoldina returned to public service with
the position of Kindergarten Inspector at the José Abelardo Núñez Higher Normal School.
Leopoldina presented to the director of the Escuela Normal Superior, José Abelardo Núñez,
her “Project to organize a course for Preschool Teachers”, with a duration of two years on
the Baccalaureate.
1941 He founded the Kindergarten in the Application School Annexed to the Normal School,
under Froebelian inspiration.
1948 By virtue of her notable career, she is named Honorary President of the “Federico Froebel
Studies Center”, recently created at the University of Chile.
1954 He died in Santiago on March 8, at 91 years of age.

Bibliography:

Maluschka, L. (1909). Kindergarten, its organization, adoption and installation in Chile and America. Santiago:
University Printing Office.

Maluschka, L. (1910). The National Kindergarten of Chile. Santiago: University.

Maluschka, L. (1930). Children's and school songs. Santiago: Le Blanc Printing.

Maluschka, L. (1935). Kindergarten, family and school: theories and practices of preschool education,
importance of children's play. Santiago: Zig-Zag.