Information on what critics say about Montessori programs to know about Montessori programs.
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| One of the main critics of the Montessori program was William Kilpatrick, who was a professor at Columbia University in 1911, the author of `The Montessori System Examined’. He dismissed sensorial material because he said that they were based on what he considered to be an outdated theory and that they restrict the child’s imagination. He was also critical that Montessori discouraged play of all kinds in her classrooms. Kilpatrics criticisms had a great impact on the popularity of Montessori education which saw a decline until 1950s, when Nancy Rambusch rediscovered Montessori in Europe and began the reawakening of Montessori schools in the United States. Kilpatrick is certainly not the only critic. The public are critical that Montessori Education is not legally protected and therefore identification of a good Montessori becomes quite difficult. Even though a school calls itself a Montessori, it does not mean that they maintain the same standards. The lack of standardization of Montessori’s has therefore caused more responsibility on the parents when selecting the right school for their child. This situation intensifies due to training of teachers who receive certifications from institutions that does not meet the expected standards. Montessori education system has been criticized for its rigidity in socializing and play during work period. Some parents complain that Montessori Method does not encourage children to be silly or have a humor during school hours. It is of concern to parents what effects this would have on their children, and to make the situation even more grievous, Montessori Method is believed to discourage imagination. Some parents complain that they are kept in the dark on the progress of their child, but this is mostly because the parents themselves do not understand the system or the Montessori specific language, to be able to comprehend what is going on. They are also of the opinion that Montessori language should be translated into a contemporary language that parents are familiar with. Yet for some critics, it is the lack of a testing and grading system until grade 7-8 in the Montessori education which does not seem to gear children to move into a more competitive environment. Some are critical that the child is permitted to do what the child wants, but it needs to be understood that it is due to this reason that a child starts enjoying the lessons and learns to concentrate. For some parents, their criticism is of a different nature. They would love to give their children the opportunity of a Montessori education, but due to the lack of affordability, they wish that this system is introduced to the public school system as well. It is evident that if the public is able to understand Montessori Method of education, there certainly will be less people who will be critical about this unique system of child education. |
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