Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was the first woman in Italy to become a physician. She also studied engineering, and did advanced studies in anthropology. She then immersed herself in the study of children and how they learn, and contributed greatly to the burgeoning field of child psychology. She first worked with developmentally disabled children and devised new materials and methods to help them learn. Later she turned her attention to all children and applied her skills, talents and experiences to create what is known as “The Montessori Method.”
She held a deep belief in the potential of each child to develop their intellectual, emotional and physical powers, with a balance of freedom of work through fostering self-discipline. She trained teachers, supervised programs for children, wrote numerous books about her theories, was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, and gave birth to an international movement for peace and education which has evolved and flourished.
Words from Maria Montessori
Montessori Around the World
“Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experience in the environment.”
“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence”
“Free choice is one of the highest of all the mental processes”
“Education should no longer be mostly imparting of knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities.”
“We must learn to call upon the man which lies dormant in the soul of a child.”
