On returning from our annual SAMA conference, I am truly proud to be able to say I work with dedicated and passionate Montessori educators from across South Africa. After listening to and sharing in-depth conversations on quality child care through our Montessori environments, I am gratified for the work done by each of our Montessori member schools as well as for our parents for choosing Montessori for their children.
Our keynote speaker, Dr Steve Hughes, spoke insightfully about the remarkable work of Maria Montessori. I quote:
“Why mess with the greatest developmental genius in the history of man?”
Dr Hughes is a respected paediatric neuropsychologist who consults with organisations on educational programme evaluation and developmental education, cognitive disorders and parenting. You can read more about Dr Hughes, as well as his lectures, on the website Good at Doing Things: http://goodatdoingthings.com/Dr._Steve_Hughes/Montessori_Lectures.html
With research in neuroscience supporting everything this extraordinary woman, Maria Montessori, observed and denoted through her own scientific observation of children in the first half of the 20th century, we cannot sit back and allow her work to be watered down or altered.
As parents, you have the responsibility to ensure that you are receiving only Montessori for your children. But what does this mean? It is not about the academic outcomes but about the real life skills and development of independence, concentration and an inquisitive, active love of learning.
Frequently in discussions with schools that are making non-Montessori adaptations to their Montessori programmes, I hear the words: “It’s what the parents want.” When you really look at it, though, this is an unusual phrase. It prompts me to think to myself, if I set out to create a good Montessori environment which will support the optimal development of children, with my years of study and a sound understanding of child development and Montessori principles, then why would parents want to make changes?
What I would expect of parents is to have information and a good understanding to support what Montessori truly is and then to expect to receive just that.
For further reading and information, please visit these recommended websites:
- Montessori Guide: www.montessoriguide.org
- Association Montessori International/USA http://amiusa.org/parent-resources/
- Montessori Madmen http://montessorimadmen.com/
Yours in Montessori
Jacky