Bertha Ronge

Bertha Ronge (born Meyer; 25 April 1818 – 18 April 1863) was a German education activist. She was involved in the causes of childhood education, women's education and religious freedom. She established the kindergarten movement in England, where she founded the first three kindergartens in London (1851, with the assistance of her sister Margarethe Schurz ), Manchester and Leeds (1860).

Biography Bertha was born on 25 April 1818 in Hamburg. She was the second child of Heinrich Christian Meyer, a wealthy cane manufacturer, and his wife Agatha Margaretha (Beusch). Her mother died giving birth to her 11th child, Margarethe. Caroline Bishop who was to champion their views in England.

Bertha held several lectures on the principle of the kindergarten at the home of von Marenholtz-Bülow. The Ronges moved back to Germany 10 years later, after founding kindergartens in London (1851), Manchester (1859) and Leeds (1860), and the Fröbel Society for the promotion of the Kindergarten System.

In 1861, the Ronge family moved back to Germany to Wrocław (now in Poland) and to Frankfurt in 1863 where Bertha died.

Works A Practical Guide to the English Kindergarten, with Johannes Ronge (London, 1855)