Who was Maria Montessori?
Born in 1970 in Chiaravalle, Maria Montessori was a fascinating and passionate woman, totally devoted to the cause of children and peace. A doctor of medicine, psychiatrist, anthropologist, socialist activist, and feminist in the early 20th century, Maria Montessori was a pioneer in the observation and understanding of children.
Even before neuroscience validated the principles underlying her entire teaching method, Maria Montessori had succeeded in demonstrating, through rigorous scientific observation of children, the importance of learning through experience, movement, and manipulation in a prepared and stimulating environment that encourages concentration and repetition of tasks. The role of the adult is completely redefined: from being a knowledgeable and authoritative "commander," they become a skilled observer and discreet guide for the child, helping them to reach their full potential. For Maria Montessori, education goes far beyond simply teaching a school curriculum. It is a guide to life, with the goal of "educating human potential."
Maria Montessori opened her first school in Rome, in the working-class neighborhood of San Lorenzo, in 1907. She welcomed children between the ages of 3 and 6 and offered them a new type of education that emphasized independence and concentration. Very quickly, observers flocked from all over the world to see this new type of school, and the phenomenon spread worldwide (United States, India, Europe, etc.).
Wherever she travels, she continues to observe children, perceiving their fundamental and universal needs. To recount her discoveries, she has written numerous books, some more practical in nature, others more focused on educational analysis (see her bibliography).
In 1937, she proposed the founding of the Children's Social Party, convinced that a true educational revolution must be undertaken because the great social mission of ensuring justice, harmony, and love for children falls to education. In her view, this was the only way to build a new world and establish peace (see the statement "The Forgotten Citizen" written by Maria Montessori in 1947).
In 1949, Léon Blum awarded him the Legion of Honor.
The International Montessori Association was founded in the interwar period. This project, which began in 1929, even attracted the attention of the symbol of Indian independence, Mahatma Gandhi.
During World War II, Maria Montessori worked in India. It was notuntil 1946 that she returned to Europe. She spent her retirement in peace and died in Holland at the age of 82.
Today, there are nearly 35,000 Montessori schools around the world. Montessori education is used in nurseries, elementary schools, middle schools, and even high schools. It is being rolled out in developing countries through the Educators Without Borders program, and is also being introduced in retirement homes to help older people maintain their cognitive abilities.