What Is Montessori?

Born in Italy in 1870, Maria Montessori became the first women doctor in her country's history. Her early work was with retarded and very poor children; by close observation and experimentation, Dr. Montessori devised a system of education that helped handicapped and deprived children learn as well as normal and average children. Her methods became world known and many countries adopted them; today there is a renewed interest in her system in the United States. Her insights into children and her ideas for helping them grow into healthy, well-rounded adults seem fresh and meaningful today.

The failures of traditional methods of education are becoming more and more obvious. The Montessori way offers a sensible, structured system that allows children to develop at their own pace, using their own abilities, with the guidance of a trained directress and the use of specially designed materials.