Within the child lies the fate of the future. Dr Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori had no internet, but she did have excellent training in observational skills through her training to become a medical doctor before the age of diagnostic equipment. After her medical studies, she also studied anthropology. This combination of studies, combined with her inquisitive mind, gave her the possibility of looking at child development – not from the point of view of an educator, but from the point of view of wonderment, of questioning what best supports normal human development. She did not begin her work with a selection of developmental theories; she started by observing children, children given a space to spend time, children given a certain level of freedom. She then sat and observed, spoke with the adults with whom she collaborated, and refined her “experiment.” She eliminated toys and experiences that generally did not apply to all children – or activities that did not capture the children’s interest. Over many years, she continued to observe, refine, and discuss her findings, creating what we have today known as the Montessori Method. Human development is a long process, a process which cannot be managed but a process which does need understanding and support. We cannot force it – we can only recognise it and offer our best efforts to understand and accept it. From our Montessori point of view, it is THE normal progression of life. For this reason Montessori called her approach “psycho-pedagogy” not an educational method.
Historical Timeline
1896: Maria graduates to great public acclaim from the University of Rome School of Medicine. She is the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. Maria also studied anthropology, biology and psychiatry. As an early feminist she represents Italy at the 1896 Women’s Conference in Berlin where, among other things, she is a strong advocate for equal pay.
1896-1907: Dr Montessori’s work brings her into close contact with children. During this period, the Italian Minister of Education appoints her as the Director of the Scuola Ortofrenica. This institution was dedicated to caring for and educating youngsters who were considered “cognitively challenged”. Through the development of her Montessori method, many of these 8-year-old students can pass standard testing with above-average scores.
1907: Dr Montessori opens Casa dei Bambini, or “Children’s House,” for children ages 3 to 6 years in one of the poorest neighborhoods in San Lorenzo, Italy.
1913: Dr Montessori made her first visit to the United States. Alexander Graham Bell and his wife, Mabel, founded the Montessori Educational Association.
1915: Panama-Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco: Dr Montessori receives international attention with her “glass house” schoolroom exhibit. During this visit, Dr Montessori led a teacher training course in the States.
1922: The Italian government asks Dr Montessori to return to become a government inspector of schools.
1929: Dr Montessori founds the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with her son, Mario, to preserve her educational principles.
1939: Dr Montessori and her son travel to India to give a series of teacher training courses. Both are detained in India during World War II.
1947: Dr Montessori started a training centre in London and continued to spend time in India.
1949: Dr Montessori is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
1950: Dr Montessori is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
1951: Dr Montessori is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
1952: Dr Montessori died in the Netherlands, assured that her legacy would be continued through the work of the Association Montessori Internationale.
Source: Montessori IB school Discover
