Information on Montessori education worldwide to know about Montessori education.
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| Montessori Method of education came into being in Italy in 1907, based on discoveries made by renowned educationist Maria Montessori. Her findings were that children learn from their environment and not much from being taught. Prior to this discovery, education was limited to classrooms where a child is taught by a teacher, leaving very little to a child’s own imagination. Therefore their potential for development was limited to what they were being taught. Traditional classes teach a child according to a particular syllabus relevant to the age of the child and consequently, regardless of the talents the child possesses, the child’s aptitude will be limited to what is being taught. If the system does not agree with the child’s interest, it would only be natural that a child’s appetite for education will be killed. Maria Montessori emphasized that what is taught in the formative years is what will hold a child through to adulthood. This is so true even in our experiences. We say `old habits die hard’. The way we train our children from the time they are able to understand things stays with them forever, i.e. a child who is taught to put away stuff after they finish with it will learn to keep an orderly neat house as they grow older. Maria Montessori started traveling to several parts of the world to share her discovery and among her campaigners Thomas Edison, Helen Keller and the founders of the Montessori Educational Association, Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel are worth a mention. She was sought after by dignitaries and eminent personalities. At the invitation of committees consisting of Margaret Wilson, daughter of former US President Woodrow Wilson, Ms Montessori visited USA in 1915 where she drew world wide attention with her “glass house” schoolroom exhibit at the Panama-Pacific International exhibition held at San Francisco. Her work and fame was not confined to the USA and in 1917 she was invited by the Spanish government to open a research institute. She moved onto London to conduct a series of teacher training courses in London. Having returned to Italy, in 1922 she was appointed a government inspector of schools but due to the political situation she was forced to leave Italy in 1934. 1938 saw her opening the Montessori Training Centre in Laren, Netherlands and she spent the years of World War II in India. However, India at that time did not welcome her but permitted her to conduct training courses. Her education method catered to every child, whether be rich or poor, normal or special, gifted, disabled or blind. Hitherto disabled or special children in most cases did not have much hope in education. Even as Dr Maria Montessori ventured the world spreading her discovery, the term Montessori education which became associated to Ms Montessori’s education concept took roots and spread its braches all over the world. Country wise difference may exist in this system of education, but by and large the method remains unchanged. Her work earned her the Nobel prizes in the years 1949, 1950 and 1951. Dr Maria Montessori has left a legacy to the entire world and her name lives on forever. Today the whole world will applaud her for her dedication and commitment for the cause of all children all over the world. |
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