Early childhood education (ECE) plays a crucial part in today’s society, as it lays the foundation for children’s further development on their path to adulthood. Modern approaches and practices are primarily based on fundamental works by ECE pioneers. Maria Montessori was one of the people who had a significant influence on today’s teachers. The purpose of this paper is to examine Montessori’s qualities and the impact of her work.
Maria Montessori is considered one of the most prominent pioneers of early childhood education. From a young age, she insisted on bending the existing norms which is why she managed to enter an all-male technical school and later went to a medical school (Gunderman 327). She used her medical insight to work with disabled children, promoting their equal rights. Maria Montessori desired to focus on her work, and when her son was born, she kept him in foster care for over a decade, not telling the father’s identity. She had a strong belief that everyone could be educated if treated adequately and fairly.
Montessori’s idea was that children had an innate motivation to observe and learn. Therefore, it would suffice to place them in a designated educational environment and allow them to learn in their way without excessive pressure from the outside. Her first attempts showed excellent results, as children learned to write and read by the age of five (Gunderman 328). Following the success, Montessori schools began to appear in other parts of the world. As far as the United States are concerned, this method was soon moved to the margins of American education after its initial popularity in the 1910s (Justice 515). Nevertheless, Montessori’s theory still has supporters of its methods all over the world.
In conclusion, Maria Montessori proposed a brand new approach that encouraged children’s autonomy from the youngest ages. According to her method, a teacher’s role is one of a guide that should provide their students with suitable conditions to initiate learning. Despite reasonable doubts on behalf of the educational communities, Montessori’s approach brought significant results and is practiced worldwide.
Works Cited
Gunderman, Richard B. “Portraits in pediatric leadership: Maria Montessori.” Pediatric Radiology, vol. 50, 2019, pp. 327-328.
Justice, Benjamin. “Bringing Montessori to America: S. S. McClure, Maria Montessori, and the Campaign to Publicize Montessori Education.” Journal of American History, vol. 104, no. 4, 2017, pp. 515-516.