A century later, Montessori method is still controversial.
Maria Montessori's unique teaching method first came to the United States in 1911 as an alternative form of early childhood education.
The Montessori philosophy is based upon the concept of self-directed learning, emphasizing that children are not “little adults” but think and learn differently from adults. Unlike the traditional educational model, which teaches through listening, watching and reading, Montessori encourages learning through all the five senses.
The teacher is seen as an observer rather than a lecturer and the children are masters of their classroom. This “alone time” offers young children intense periods of concentration in which the teacher does not interrupt them. The child is left to solve problems in their own time.
The Montessori method still draws debate and criticism among academics and parents as to its long-term benefits for children as they age into adults. The focus on the individual and on free choice learned early, could be viewed as a hindrance to the more structured environment of traditional classrooms and in the real world.
“For kids rising up the school system there could be an adjustment,” says Susan Broome a Montessori teacher from Newton, Mass. “They have to recognize that the teacher tells you what to learn. It’s the opposite to Montessori’s self-motivated learning.”
“My daughter was unable to read when she entered middle school after attending Montessori,” says Robert Hawkins, a parent from New York, NY. He worries that in high school she may have difficulties coping with structured group activities. “Montessori taught her to work out problems on her own as long as she needed. But she won’t have all the time in the world in later life.”
On the other hand, Christine Burghardt from Dearborn Michigan is pleased with the teaching her 7-year-old daughter receives at her Montessori school. “She is way ahead in reading and she has a perception of learning which is very independent. I believe this will carry her throughout her educational journey."
As yet, no conclusive studies have been conducted into the long-term effects of a Montessori education. But anecdotal evidence suggests that certain children flourish in the laissez faire Montessori system and go on to adjust well to a more structured teaching environment. Some parents however are concerned that leaving a child to his own devices in the classroom does not bode well as they climb the ladder towards higher education.
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