Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870. In 1896 she became Italy's first female Doctor of Medicine. She was a devoted scientist and insatiable learner. The fact that she was able to break gender barriers is an indication of the courage, perseverance and determination that characterized her life.
Maria Montessori was a keen observer who, through her study of children as well as through extensive travels around the world, learned that certain phases of development are universal and continue throughout our lives. Children in particular manifest the clearest stages in their development.
Through her work in the fields of psychiatry, pediatrics and education, Maria Montessori developed an approach to education as a means of providing children with the kind of environment from which they would draw what is necessary for the development of their full human potential. She believed in the uniqueness of each child and in his potential as an architect of a better and more peaceful world. Based on her scientific observations, she developed a comprehensive, child-centered approach to education founded on the following principles:
- Education should prepare the child for life – intellectually, emotionally and physically
- Children learn best without undue interference, motivated by their innate need to explore and discover
- Specifically designed environments facilitate children’s development to their fullest potential
- Children should be allowed to progress at their own pace regardless of ability or age level
In 1907, Maria Montessori opened her first school Casa dei Bambini, or “The Children's House.” She chose this phrase deliberately to accentuate the difference between her child-centered educational methods and the adult-centered approach to teaching that was dominant at the time and is still the model in many schools today.
The most effective way to educate the child, Montessori argued, is to thoughtfully design a learning environment that meets the developmental needs of the “whole child,” taking into consideration their social and emotional needs as well as academic growth. The role of the teacher is to observe the children, support their efforts, and gently guide them in the exploration of new ideas and the practice of new skills. If we follow the child, she said, the child will teach us what they are ready to learn and we can provide the necessary materials to facilitate that learning. Allowing children to choose what they want to work on in a given time period increases concentration, which results in greater mastery of the content. This approach also makes learning fun, because each individual child may pursue his or her own interests in ways they can grasp. Maria Montessori’s educational framework is designed to support all learners, from the learning disabled to the gifted.
Based on her studies of children, she believed that the characteristics we normally associate with childhood – such as capriciousness, selfishness, laziness and an inability to concentrate – appear only when a child's natural development is being thwarted. When children are allowed freedom in an environment suited to their needs, they blossom. Through continued concentrated activity of their own choice, children develop inner discipline and mastery of skills. This is the single most important result of Montessori education.
