Maria Montessori

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Foundations of Education

Maria Montessori (1870-1952) developed her educational method from a profound appreciation for the power and mystery of the child. The child, given primary respect, makes spontaneous choices within a prepared environment, and is “free to create himself.” Students in all parts of the world are greatly benefiting from this understanding of discipline, which teaches freedom and responsibility. Almost every early-childhood teacher in the world uses some of her techniques and ideas, and the Montessori movement continues to grow.
Maria Montessori was the originator of the “Montessori method” of educating small children and the first woman to receive a medical degree in Italy (1894). At the Orthophrenic School in Rome she worked as a psychiatrist with retarded children, using an environment that was rich in manipulative materials. In 1907, she started her first daycare center which utilized the same methods with normal preschoolers on the theory that a child will learn naturally if placed in an environment consisting of learning games suited to the child's abilities and interests. Relying on self-motivation and auto-education, the teacher intervenes only when a child needs help. Montessori also developed child-sized furniture. Her writings include The Montessori Method (1912) and The Secret of Childhood (1936).
The Association Montessori International (AMI) was founded in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori to maintain the integrity of her life’s work, and to ensure that it would be perpetuated after her death. AMI’s activities include: 1) providing guidance for AMI training courses; 2) co-ordinating a Training of Trainers program; 3) encouraging the creation of Montessori schools; 4) guiding manufacturers in the production of approved Montessori materials; 5) overseeing the publication of Dr. Montessori’s books; 6) organizing congress and study conferences; 7) affiliating Montessori Societies; and 8) ...