Maria Montessori Italian doctor, teacher, scientist, philosopher, humanist, Catholic. Date of Birth: 31.08.1870 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Maria Montessori
2. Early Life and Education
3. Medical Career and Educational Method
4. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori, an Italian doctor, educator, scientist, philosopher, humanist, and Catholic, is one of the prominent figures in the field of education in the 20th century. According to UNESCO, she is one of the four educators who have shaped the concept of the educational process. Alongside John Dewey, Georg Kerschensteiner, and Anton Makarenko, Montessori's educational principles continue to be the subject of lively discussions and the foundation of many teaching and child development methodologies.

Early Life and Education

Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in Chiavalle, a provincial town in Italy. She was the only child of Alessandro and Renilde Montessori. Her father was a prominent government official, while her mother, who came from the Stopani family, had a strong emphasis on science and education. Maria's uncle, Antonio Stopani, was a theologian, mathematician, and educator, who even has a monument dedicated to him in Milan. Despite her exceptional abilities, Maria's mother had to confine herself to domestic life. However, she raised Maria in strict Catholic traditions while encouraging her creative abilities and fostering her independence.

During her school years, Maria developed a love for mathematics, influenced by her uncle Antonio. At the age of twelve, after numerous petitions, Maria was admitted to a technical school for boys. She earned 137 out of 150 possible points upon graduation and later enrolled in the Polytechnic Institute to study mathematics and natural sciences. However, Maria developed a deep interest in biology and decided to pursue medicine. At the time, it was highly unconventional for a woman to study medicine. Maria had to seek permission from the highest government authorities and even approached Pope Leo XIII. Eventually, her family's reputation helped her gain admission to the University of Rome.

Medical Career and Educational Method

While studying, Maria began her practical medical work with children who had developmental disabilities. It was during this time that the basic idea of her educational system took shape - children needed a special environment that would help them develop necessary skills. Her acquaintance with the works of psychologists Itard and Seguin and her work at the Institute of Experimental Psychology led to her appointment as the head of an orthophrenic school in Rome in 1900. Just three months later, a commission of specialists acknowledged the remarkable results of Montessori's methods.

In 1907, the first "Children's House" was opened for socially and educationally disadvantaged children, where Montessori introduced innovative practices such as thematic areas with corresponding materials and free access, as well as the absence of age segregation. Montessori students began to read and write at the age of four, acquiring excellent social skills and a positive mindset. Her ideas about the enormous potential for self-realization in children and the unique "absorbent mind" present during early childhood revolutionized the field of education.

The Montessori system gained worldwide recognition, with her works being translated into 20 languages and "Children's Houses" opening in many countries. In 1929, the International Montessori Association was established, which continues its work to this day. However, during the 1930s, Montessori's ideas faced persecution under totalitarian regimes.

Later Years and Legacy

At the beginning of World War II, Maria and her son lived in England, where they were interned as citizens of an enemy state. They spent seven years in India, where Maria opened her school and developed a teaching methodology for children aged 6-12. After the war, Maria Montessori resided in the Netherlands until her death in 1952. She was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize and was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour in 1949.

The educational principles of Maria Montessori are still considered the best in terms of optimal child development, health preservation, and individualized approach. Critics argue that the Montessori system may not be suitable for closed or hyperactive children and may not pay enough attention to the development of creative abilities. However, it is widely recognized that the Montessori system provides a balanced combination of freedom and clear structure, fostering independence, inner discipline, and diligence, all of which are necessary for the harmonious development of each child's personality.