{"id":263,"date":"2016-09-29T12:57:44","date_gmt":"2016-09-29T12:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/?p=263"},"modified":"2016-09-29T12:57:44","modified_gmt":"2016-09-29T12:57:44","slug":"montessori-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/29\/montessori-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Montessori Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last spring, Montessori education made international headlines<\/a> when the United Kingdom\u2019s Prince George was enrolled at a Montessori school in England. George\u2019s family has a history with Montessori education; his late grandmother, Princess Diana, worked in a Montessori school as a young woman. Diana later sent her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to Montessori schools. Royalty aside, the Montessori approach has stretched across continents since Dr. Montessori first entered the classroom at Casa dei Bambini in Rome in 1907. We\u2019d like to share with you a little bit of the story about how the Montessori philosophy made its way around the globe.<\/p>\n

The Beginnings of the Montessori Method in Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Montessori Method was born in Italy when Dr. Maria Montessori, one of the first Italian female medical school graduates, turned her interest to the field of education. Intrigued by her observations of children, Dr. Montessori began developing specialized materials to facilitate the children\u2019s natural tendencies to explore and their desire to do things for themselves. She also worked extensively with teachers at training institutes, eventually conducting her own Montessori teacher training sessions, using the materials<\/a> she developed to help teachers reach a wide range of students and promote their independent learning and growth.<\/p>\n

The Spread of the Montessori Philosophy<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the publication of Dr. Montessori\u2019s books The Montessori Method<\/em> and Pedagogical Anthropology<\/em>, the Montessori message spread beyond Italy and into England, France, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, and the United States. Some schools adapted Dr. Montessori\u2019s methods into their existing curricula, while other schools were being created specifically to follow the approach Dr. Montessori outlined in her books. International teacher training sessions were well attended, as more educators wanted to bring this innovative and effective approach to children in their home countries.<\/p>\n

Due to political turmoil and the breakout of war in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s, Maria Montessori lived as a political refugee in many different countries, including Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. During this time, she continued to travel widely, giving lectures about her philosophy and peace education.<\/p>\n

Maria Montessori passed away in the Netherlands in 1953, where the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI),<\/a> established by Dr. Montessori, remains headquartered. This is significant because the Netherlands is a country known for its culture of tolerance and its support of education. After her death, Dr. Montessori\u2019s son, Mario, carried on his mother\u2019s legacy, enlightening educators about the Montessori Method throughout the world.<\/p>\n

Montessori in the United States<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of Montessori\u2019s earliest supporters in the United States included the likes of Alexander Graham Bell and Margaret Woodrow Wilson, daughter of the President. However, her philosophy didn\u2019t truly strike a chord in the world of American education until the 1960s when Nancy McCormick Rambusch returned to the United States after being trained under the guidance of Mario Montessori in Europe. With Mario\u2019s support, she later founded the American Montessori Society (AMS).<\/a> A resurgence of interest in Montessori education was cultivated, and new Montessori schools began to crop up throughout the country. Today, AMS oversees thousands of schools in the United States. Montessori schools that are affiliated with AMS are held accountable for upholding the classroom standards<\/a> set forth by Dr. Montessori.<\/p>\n

Montessori Around the World Today<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, approximately 20,000 Montessori schools serve children from birth through 18 years of age. The Montessori Method, with over 100 years of practice, is recognized worldwide as an educational approach that helps children achieve their fullest potential. Montessori schools are often the first educational choice for immigrant and expatriate families because of the international recognition of the Montessori philosophy. The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy (MCA) has certainly experienced this phenomenon in recent years.<\/p>\n

MCA\u2019s International Community<\/strong><\/p>\n

MCA\u2019s school community reflects the international acceptance of the Montessori philosophy. Our area is culturally diverse in part because of the many international companies headquartered here. When international families relocate, they have a desire to enroll their children in Montessori schools because the philosophy is already familiar to them. In addition to the many MCA families born and raised here in America, our schools include families from Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, India, Pakistan, China, and Australia. Due to this diversity, a celebration such as the International Day of Peace<\/a> becomes even more meaningful. Diversity also allows our students to expand their knowledge of different cultures and traditions, which we believe will encourage them to grow into tolerant, responsible, and informed global citizens.<\/p>\n

\"Montessori<\/p>\n

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Notes and sources for this post:<\/p>\n