DOCUMENT RESUME ED 448 919 PS 029 147 AUTHOR Montvilaite, Sigita TITLE Pre-School Education in Lithuania: Historical Interpretation. PUB DATE 2000-08-00 NOTE 18p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Conference on Quality in Early Childhood Education (EECERA) (London, England, August 29-September 1, 2000). Summaries of the paper are provided in English, French, German, and Spanish. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) -- Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Educational Change; *Educational History; *Educational Practices; Foreign Countries; Historical Interpretation; *Kindergarten; *Preschool Education; Program Descriptions IDENTIFIERS Historical Background; *Lithuania ABSTRACT During the 20th century, preschool education in Lithuania evolved within a context of a changing society, ideology, and politics, including the experience of national independence, two world wars, political exile and occupation, and regained independence. This paper demonstrates the connection between past and present preschool educational practices. It is noted that the birth of preschool education should be linked with the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1918. The period 1918 to 1940 was marked by the establishment of kindergartens and the development of the preschool educational system. Although the majority of kindergartens were supported by government institutions, the system was highly dependent on private support. The main aim of the system was to develop a highly national self-consciousness in the child. During World War 2, some kindergartens were developed in refugee camps that were based on the work of Froebel and Montessori. During the Soviet occupation, preschool education was focused on collective activities led by adults. Following the restoration of independence in 1990, the following trends have been present: (1) decrease in the number of preschool institutions due to less demand for their use; (2) increased variety of institutions; (3) improved program quality; and (4) increased attempts toward decentralization of educational content. (KB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.