A little while back I ran across this article from Aha! Parenting-
Choosing preschool: Montessori vs. Gifted
which claimed that play-based learning is best for children.
The author mentioned how for children, their play is work. This reminds me of Montessori's findings. In her first school she offered children toys as well her famous materials. She found children gravitating away from the toys towards the learning materials. They were thirsty for real things, no pretend things, and their work became their play.
The article continues on to discuss what is not so great with Montessori schools. How it is too rigid, 100 years old, and does not allow for creativity or play. Clearly as a Montessorian these are things I disagree with.
While I
understand how it could be viewed as rigid (a child must have a
presentation from a teacher before being able to do a work, materials
are to be used for their purpose, etc...) it is often because the
reasons why these things are in place in not known or understood. I
would argue though, that the Montessori Method's age, is not a negative. What
Maria Montessori found to be best for children a hundred years ago
completely changed the way people viewed the young child and greatly influences how
preschools are set up today (child sized furniture, freedom to choose,
sensitive periods, the need for manipulatives, etc). Her findings continue to be relevant and continue to guide use towards a better understanding on the child and his development.
Montessori
found that children thirst for freedom but this freedom (as it should
be with adults) comes with boundaries for the benefits of the group.
Freedom does not mean you get to do what ever you want!
Also as a
scientist, Montessori based her method on observations of the child. She
found that children needed to be based in reality first in order for
their creativity and imagination to flourish.
The author concludes by mentioning how anyone can call themselves and Montessori school and that the most important factor then becomes the people in the school more than the philosophy. I would agree that the people are just as
important as the learning. No matter the approach, a good or bad teacher
can have a huge impact, as can a good or bad school community!
It thus becomes crucial for Montessori schools to be continuously working towards a better understanding and practice of the Method while building a strong and happy community!
