ints in history. In the eras of the Greek and Roman civilization the childhood years were believed to have a great impact on their later development. During this time period Plato and Aristotle wrote of the importance of early education (Vasta 7). In the "eighteenth century an educational movement called naturalism developed" (Webb 146). The precursor of this movement, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, was best known for his political theories (Webb 146-147). Rousseau construed a philosophy and theory of education that inspired many educators. He believed in the educational demand of adapting instruction to the diverse stages of children's growth and development (Webb 147). The United States schools can trace their ancestry to the ancient Greek and Roman civilization (Webb 163). Through change, the philosophy of childhood has changed immensely over
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