When we delve into the lives of famous and successful people, it is always fascinating to search for the secrets of their achievements. Here is a small question for you: What is the common factor among famous chef Julia Child, novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, singer Taylor Swift, and the founders of Google, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin?
The answer is that all these famous people attended Montessori schools when they were young.
Montessori schools have been recognized for their role in the world of art and technology in America for a long time, but the fame of the Montessori method of education is older than that.
For example, Mahatma Gandhi was also a big supporter of this method of education and used to say that children who are taught with this method of education do not feel burdened because they learn everything while playing.
Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore planted the seed of Montessori schools with the aim of promoting children's creative abilities, but does this method of education really work?
This method of education was devised by Italian doctor and education expert Maria Montessori more than a century ago with the aim of promoting independence in children at a very young age, and more than a century has passed since then.
Maria Montessori's life gives us the first glimpse of women's rights or feminist theories, and her story is very inspiring. She left her home country of Italy at the turn of the century to pursue her dreams and spent her entire life promoting her educational philosophy, which is still highly regarded today.
Playing with pieces of double roti
Maria Montessori was born in 1870 to progressive parents. Her parents often met with renowned thinkers and scholars of the country.
This enlightened family environment provided Maria Montessori with many advantages over other young girls of her time.
Eliad Taiani, a member of the Board of Directors of Montessori National Opera in Rome, says, "For some important decisions in Montessori's life, her mother's cooperation was essential, such as entering a technical school after elementary education. Similarly, when deciding to receive medical education, the support of her parents proved necessary because at that time, the medical field was dominated by men."
"Maria Montessori's family was always extremely sensitive to social issues, such as the struggle for women's freedom. It was a battle that Maria Montessori had to continue until her adulthood. This is why she became an important reference for other women of her time."
After graduation, in 1896, Montessori began working as an assistant at a psychological clinic at the University of Rome, where she cared for children who faced difficulties in learning.
The furniture in the rooms of this clinic was minimal. Catherine L. Acer, a researcher in psychology and education at the University of Navarra in Spain and author of the book "Wonder Approach," says, "Maria Montessori began to build her own teaching materials to teach these children."
Control in the hands of children:
Today, there are many different types of Montessori schools around the world, but the Montessori organization itself does not recognize many of these institutions. However, some fundamental principles of this teaching method are still upheld in these schools. One principle is to present teachers as gentle guides or mentors whose job is to encourage children so that they can continue their activities with minimal intervention from adults.
The head teacher of EcoScuola, Maryam Farooq, says, "Our children manage their own activities themselves." EcoScuola covers some subjects that are similar to those taught in other nurseries or primary schools, such as mathematics and music. However, the "practical life" section of EcoScuola also reflects the principles of Montessori, as it teaches children to be self-reliant.
In this section, children are taught practical skills, such as serving drinks to their classmates. The teachers heat water to keep young children safe from any accidents, but it is the children's responsibility to clean up after meals and serve food and drinks to one another.
Ms. Farooq says that during breakfast and lunch, children also take turns serving each other, which encourages them to be attentive and considerate of their classmates
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