F. Horwich; Created ‘Ding Dong School’

Frances R. Horwich, whose “Ding Dong School” helped change children’s television and led the way for shows such as “Sesame Street” and “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” has died. She was 94.

The woman known to millions of preschoolers as Miss Frances died Sunday of congestive heart failure in Scottsdale, Ariz.

First aired in 1952 on Chicago’s WNBQ-TV Channel 5 (now WMAQ), “Ding Dong School” was unlike other early children’s television shows. And Horwich, who held a doctorate in education, was unlike the other hosts, who typically introduced cartoons.

Horwich, who produced the show in addition to being host, engaged the children. After beginning each program by ringing an old-fashioned teacher’s bell, she looked into the camera, asked, “How are you this morning?” and gave children in front of their TV sets time to respond.

She led children in crafts, songs and storytelling with puppets Jocko the monkey and Lucky the rabbit.

“Most of the children’s shows produced at the time were along the line of ‘Bozo,’ ” said Barbara Williams, who is on the board of governors of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Chicago chapter.

“Then along came Miss Frances. Miss Frances respected children for what they knew and what they could do.”

Horwich explained the difference between her shows and others in a 1966 interview, saying, “Too many programs on television rob children of their own ideas, without giving them a chance to create and think for themselves.”

She also said that for children, identification with the group is important.

“Little children sometimes feel left out of things. Our little school gives them a sense of belonging,” she said.

The show was such a hit that in about six weeks, NBC decided to broadcast it nationally, and ran it for four years. The network also named Horwich the supervisor of all children’s programming, and “Ding Dong School” won a George Foster Peabody Award.

Writing in the Saturday Review at the time, one critic praised Horwich’s command of the show.

“She seems genuinely to care about [the children’s] intelligence, imagination and creativity. . . . Miss Frances’ secret is her child-world rhythm of thought and feeling.”

The show moved from Chicago to New York and later Los Angeles, where it was in syndication until Horwich retired in the 1960s.

Born in Ottawa, Ohio, the former Frances Rappaport graduated from the University of Chicago and taught elementary school in Evanston, Ill., before earning her master’s degree in education at Columbia University. She later earned her PhD at Northwestern University.

In 1931, she married Harvey L. Horwich, a civilian technical consultant in the U.S. Air Force. They had no children.

She is survived by five nieces and two nephews.

Funeral arrangements were pending.