Eglantyne succeeded former principal of Froebel College, Esther Lawrence. During her time she advanced the syllabus so that students became involved in schools and with children from the very first semester. She was principal during the great depression, which led most Froebel graduates to work in private schools. Eglantyne fought hard for more students to work in state schools, where the Froebel method was hard to implement in classes of 60 children, and remained a firm believer in the method throughout.