Maria Montessori is perhaps the most famous and significant name in the field of pedagogy. It was her who could be accepted without problems in noble Europe, she helped thousands of children become literate, and it is her books that are still being sold out at the speed of a hurricane. Who is Maria Montessori?
A family
Maria was born into a family of aristocrats Montessori-Stoppani. Maria's father was a civil servant awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy, and her mother was raised according to the laws of gender equality. All the best and the best qualities were combined in their daughter - Mary, who was born in 1870.
From a very young age, Maria communicated with scientists-relatives and studied their work. But most of all she liked the works of her uncle Antonio - a theologian and writer, as well as a respected person in Italy.
Education
Maria already in elementary school made it clear that subjects are given to her very easily, and mathematics in general was her favorite subject. She played in the theater and enjoyed life. At the age of 12, she realized that girls were treated worse, and the proof was the gymnasium, to which only boys were taken.
But the character, connections and position of the parents were able to break even this rule. And it was difficult in the gymnasium - at the technical school Maria was the only one among the boys, so she not only drew knowledge, but also proved the right to do so.
Maria's passion for the natural sciences, as well as the desire to become useful to society, affected what profession the girl chose for herself. At first she wanted to be an engineer, but her parents were more inclined towards pedagogy. In 1980, the girl was taken to the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Rome.
But just then she began to be attracted to medicine, and Maria began to take medical courses to become a doctor. But, as at the beginning of the training, boys were taken to this course, and Maria went there thanks to her position and connections.
At the end of her studies, Maria worked as an assistant in a local hospital, and after successfully defending her thesis, she went to practice at a clinic. Here she met children with disabilities and began to read everything about their adaptation in society.
After that, the world of the theory of education, pedagogy and upbringing opened up for her, and from 1896, using new knowledge, she began to work with "not such" children. After her students achieved high results, the public learned about Mary, and a little later even the Ortophrenic Institute, headed by Maria, appeared.
A family
Maria did not have a family, but had an affair with a psychiatric clinic doctor. They even had a son, even though they were not husband and wife, in 1898. But this was a time when outside of marriage was perceived very negatively. Therefore, the child was sent to another family for education.
Maria's son, Mario, did not take offense at his mother and moved in with her at the age of 15. Mario helped his mother and took over some of the organizational work. Maria introduced Mario as a relative, and only at the end of her life said that he was her son. Mario continued to work with the Montessori technique after his mother's death.
Montessori method
Maria, studying and improving her knowledge, saw exactly how children live and develop in schools - the classrooms were not adapted for them, educational institutions were tough in terms of discipline, and all this in total undermined the children's interest in development. As a result, raising and educating children was more like violence.
Maria understood that something needed to be changed, and in 1907 she opened the Children's House school, where methods of developing education were practiced. The first Montessori seminar took place in 1909, when her first book appeared on the methods used to communicate with children.
The main motto of the method is to help the child do everything on his own. That is, you do not need to force children to act or impose your opinion. According to her methodology, a teacher is a person who observes a child and his activities from a distance. He can only direct the kid and wait for his initiative.
At the same time, there must be an appropriate atmosphere that allows the development of sensing. The most important thing in communication is a polite attitude and respect for children.
Conclusion
While the Montessori methods have made an invaluable contribution to education, they have been criticized many times for lack of creativity, lack of physical activity and lack of role play.
