3/11/2014 Maria Montessori - Biography - Academic, Educator - Biography.

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Maria Montessori Biography

Academic, Educator (1870–1952)

Italian physician Maria Montessori was a

pioneer of theories in early childhood
education, which are still implemented in
Montessori schools all over the globe.

Synopsis
QUICK FACTS
NAME
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in Chiaravalle,
Italy. In 1907 she was placed in charge of the Casa dei Bambini
Maria Montessori
school. By 1925, more than 1,000 Montessori schools had
OCCUPATION opened in the United States. By 1940 the Montessori
Academic, Educator movement had faded, but it was revived in the 1960s. During
World War II, Montessori developed Education for Peace in
BIRTH DATE India, and earned two Nobel Peace Prize nominations. She died
August 31, 1870 May 6, 1952, in Noordwijk aan Zee, Netherlands.

DEATH DATE
May 6, 1952 Early Life
EDUCATION
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in the
University of Rome
provincial town of Chiaravalle, Italy, to middle-class, well-
PLACE OF BIRTH educated parents. At the time that Montessori was growing up,
Chiaravalle, Italy Italy held conservative values about women's roles. From a
young age, she consistently broke out of those proscribed
PLACE OF DEATH gender limitations. After the family moved to Rome, when she
Noordwijk aan Zee, was 14, Montessori attended classes at a boys' technical
Netherlands institute, where she further developed her aptitude for math
and her interest in the sciences—particularly biology.

SYNOPSIS
Facing her father's resistance but armed with her mother's
support, Montessori went on to graduate with high honors from
EARLY LIFE
the medical school of the University of Rome in 1896. In so
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
doing, Montessori became the first female doctor in Italy.
RESEARCH
EDUCATIONAL LEGACY
CITE THIS PAGE
Early Childhood Education Research
As a doctor, Montessori chose pediatrics and psychiatry as her
QUOTES specialties. While teaching at her medical-school alma mater,
Montessori treated many poor and working-class children who
“Supposing I said there was attended the free clinics there. During that time, she observed
a planet without schools or that intrinsic intelligence was present in children of all socio-
teachers, study was economic backgrounds.
unknown, and yet the
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3/11/2014 Maria Montessori - Biography - Academic, Educator - Biography.com

inhabitants—doing Montessori became the director of the Orthophrenic School for

nothing but living and developmentally disabled children in 1900. There she began to
extensively research early childhood development and
walking about—came to
education. Her reading included the studies of 18th and 19th
know all things, to carry in century French physicians Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard and
their minds the whole of Édouard Séguin, who had experimented with the capabilities of
learning: would you not disabled children. Montessori began to conceptualize her own
think I was romancing? method of applying their educational theories, which she tested
Well, just this, which seems through hands-on scientific observation of students at the
Orthophrenic School. Montessori found the resulting
so fanciful as to be nothing
improvement in students' development remarkable. She spread
but the invention of a her research findings in speeches throughout Europe, also
fertile imagination, is a using her platform to advocate for women's and children's
reality. It is the child's way rights.
of learning. This is the path
he follows. He learns
everything without Educational Legacy
knowing he is learning it,
Montessori's success with developmentally disabled children
and in doing so passes little spurred her desire to test her teaching methods on "normal"
by little from the children. In 1907 the Italian government afforded her that
unconscious to the opportunity. Montessori was placed in charge of 60 students
conscious, treading always from the slums, ranging in age from 1 to 6. The school, called
in the paths of joy and Casa dei Bambini (or Children's House), enabled Montessori to
create the "prepared learning" environment she believed was
love.”
conducive to sense learning and creative exploration. Teachers
were encouraged to stand back and "follow the child"—that is,
“Scientific observation has to let children's natural interests take the lead. Over time,
established that education Montessori tweaked her methods through trial and error. Her
is not what the teacher writings further served to spread her ideology throughout
gives; education is a Europe and the United States.
natural process
spontaneously carried out By 1925 more than 1,000 of her schools had opened in
by the human individual, America. Gradually Montessori schools fell out of favor; by
and is acquired not by 1940 the movement had faded and only a few schools
listening to words but by remained. Once World War II began, Montessori was forced to
flee to India, where she developed a program called Education
experiences upon the for Peace. Her work with the program earned her two Nobel
environment. The task of Peace Prize nominations.
the teacher becomes that
of preparing a series of
Montessori died on May 6, 1952, in Noordwijk aan Zee,
motives of cultural Netherlands. The 1960s witnessed a resurgence in Montessori
activity, spread over a schools, led by Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambusch. Today,
specially prepared Montessori's teaching methods continue to "follow the child" all
environment, and then over the globe.
refraining from obtrusive
interference. Human Fact Check
teachers can only help the
great work that is being We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that
doesn't look right, contact us!
done, as servants help the
master. Doing so, they will

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be witnesses to the Cite This Page

unfolding of the human
soul and to the rising of a
New Man who will not be a
victim of events, but will
have the clarity of vision to
direct and shape the future
of human society.”
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