140th birth anniversary:

Dr Maria Montessori - the child's champion

Hasinee Kurukulasuriya

Dr Maria Montessori was the first lady doctor in Italy, an innovator in psychology, child development and educational methods, a philosopher and humanitarian. She believed that each child is born with potential and qualities that are unique to each one.

Dr Montessori was born at Chiaravalle in the province of Ancona in Italy on August 31, 1870, to Alessandro Montessori (father) and Renilde Stoppani (mother). Her hard work and determination helped her to become the first female in Italy to take the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1896. In the same year she represented the women of Italy at a feminist congress in Medicine, in 1896. In the same year she represented the women of Italy at a feminist congress in Berlin. In 1900, when she attended a similar congress in London, she attacked the practice of employing child labour in the mines of Sicily, she fought for the exploitation of children.

Though the years she addressed many international assemblies rejecting child labour and mistreatment of women. Soon after Dr Montessori graduated, she was appointed as an assistant doctor at the Psychiatric Clinic in the University of Rome. Her work with the children at the Psychiatric Clinic, in the University of Rome, inspired her to register at the University to study Philosophy, Psychology and Anthropology. While she was working at the Psychiatric clinic, part of her duty was to visit the asylums in Rome, to select suitable subjects for the clinic.

Lunatic asylums

In one of the lunatic asylums she came across some unhappy children who were kept together like prisoners in a room. She realized that the path towards intelligence of these children were their own hands. She studied more and more about these children and realized that mental deficiency was a pedagogical problem rather than a medical one. She believed that with special educational treatment, their mental condition could be improved.

During her observations at the clinics, she observed that children build themselves from what they find in the environment. By this time she wanted to teach normal children. At this time there was a slum district called San Lorenzo Quarter in Rome, where the poorest class of the whole city lived. When the parents were away at work and the older children were in school, the younger children used to play in this environment, creating disorder.

After some consideration, the authorities decided to put these children together in a room and pay someone to look after them. One of those responsible, recalling a magazine article by Dr Montessori, decided that she was the best person to direct the work and approached her about it. Dr Montessori accepted this invitation as this was a fulfillment of a long cherished hope - the opportunity to work with normal children. She got tables, chairs and learning materials produced according to her specification. She set up a new type of a school the 'Casa dei Bambini' (which means House of Children), in San Lorenzo on January 6, 1906. There were 60 children (3 to 6), and through these children, Dr Montessori discovered universal truths about young children.

Hidden treasures

Dr Montessori through her scientific observations observed that children absorb knowledge from the environment, around them, and that they have a thirst to learn and use their hands to discover things. Children have an inner need to learn and all they need is a good environment and the right materials. Montessori discovered the 'hidden treasures' which came to light in an unexpected way. In the prepared environment in the Houses of Children, Dr Montessori found children who would happily work, when given freedom to make their own choice, when the right guidance is given.

Children spontaneously chose activities according to their needs, interests and abilities and little children were successful in following an order always in their work and environment. Young children have amazing powers of concentration, they love repetition and preferred to do work with the learning materials rather than to play with toys of which they become bored very soon. She discovered that children teach themselves. Once Dr Montessori said, "We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being."

The Montessori Method is a methodology and educational philosophy. Dr Montessori herself said, "I have studied the child, I have taken what the child has given me and expressed it, and that is what is called the Montessori Method."

Montessori method

Montessori lessons work in a methodical way. Each step leads directly to a new level of learning. The Montessori method encourages a child to proceed at his or her own pace on to abstract thinking and most importantly to absorb his or her own culture and social environment. The adult in the Montessori classroom observes each child and provides an individual program for learning, the adult should be an individual guide not the leader of the classroom. Dr Montessori discovered

a psychological proceeding through a sequence of developmental stages and noticed the sensitive periods for learning particular skills - such as language acquisition and sensory skills.

Dr Montessori had a vision regarding the human condition, a vision that offers a new perspective on the possibility of a peaceful world. It was a vision that became vast and far reaching as Dr Maria Montessori launched a social movement on behalf of the child. This was the ultimate vision in her life. Dr Montessori taught her methods in many parts of Europe, United States of America and Africa. She also conducted a series of teacher training courses in India as well.

Joyce Goonesekera was one of the first Sri Lankan women to follow the Montessori course of study, in 1941 in India. In 1944 Dr Montessori launched the first training course in Sri Lanka. She entrusted the continuity of the Montessori methods in Sri Lanka to the Congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters. The first Montessori House of Children was opened at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena, Colombo 13. In time many other Houses of Children in the city and suburbs came into existence.

The Association Montessori Internationale was founded in 1929 in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Dr Montessori to maintain the integrity of her work. The objectives of the Association are to uphold, propagate and further pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr Montessori for the full development of the human being. AMI is an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) represented at the United Nations, since 1985 and an NGO with operational relations with UNESCO since 1962. In 1949 Dr Montessori was invited to address a gathering of UNESCO.

Key ideas

AMI promotes Montessori's key ideas about creating a culture of peace by working on creating peaceful environments, where children can experience 'peace', daily at home, in their schools and communities. AMI has joined the international co-ordination of the UN Decade on Peace and Non-Violence for Children. Dr Montessori believed that education was the most powerful and universal way through which to reconstruct society, a way of transition from war to peace. "We Montessorians must create an environment that will promote the development of peaceful individuals. It is necessary for us to look into and take note of their own value. If we teach peace in our classroom, we must strive for peace in our lives, in our homes and in our work place, because we are the models of peace and we are guiding and nourishing the peace keepers of the future," she said.

In recognition of Dr Montessori's work, she was nominated for the Nobel prize three times in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Dr Montessori lived out the remainder of her life in the Netherlands (which became the headquarters of the AMI) and she died in 1952 in Noordwijkaan Zee in Netherlands.

Dr Montessori's work can be applied at any time, in any place, within all social standards to benefit the child beyond its school and home as, "Education as an Aid to Life".

The Montessori methods operates in all six continents and hundreds of adults have been well trained and skilled on how to serve little children around the world. Many of Dr Maria Montessori's discoveries have been confirmed through today's scientific experimentation.

The Montessori method of teaching is effective and influential in this age as it was 100 years ago and it holds true for all children who belong to all races, cultures and social standards.

When Montessori principles are applied in the wider context of society, their possibilities are vast and all encompassing. They can be of invaluable help to parents, social workers, child care workers, and to any person involved with the development of the human being. They can be and have been applied with children undergoing lengthy hospitalization, physically impaired children, victims of violence, children abandoned and children at risk.

Dr Montessori's work is a valuable gift to all children of the world, she is truly the Champion of the Child'.

The commemorative mass of thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Bridget's Convent Chapel, Colombo 7, at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8 with Rev. Fr. Chaminda Wanigasena of St Peter's College, as celebrant.