Comments on: The Cult of Montessori http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/ by Carolyn Bickford Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:38:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JimmyC http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-783 JimmyC Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:09:05 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-783 Have to comment here as just pulled my daughter from a montessori as she spent 6weeks. Sitting inside looking at the floor! The montessori teacher told me she was not ready to learn or play!!!! My child is 3 and can write her own name, count to twenty and recite her alphabet etc Yet this mini cult which appears to be hijacked by the scientologists tell me it is my daughters fault as she is the individual and is not ready. I asked for my $600 back so i could pay my daughter as clearly she had the autonomy. Montessori is a joke, a simple marketing joke. It is rife with "teachers" who have failed in most things but passed the easy montessori program, and still have the final ability to sit on their fat asses and blame the child for failing. Every time i think or see montessori now i throw up in my mouth at their incompetence,negligence,lethargy,ignorance and insolence. Jimmy P.S only someone with the name Eli would make a comment like that.LMAO Have to comment here as just pulled my daughter from a montessori as she spent 6weeks. Sitting inside looking at the floor! The montessori teacher told me she was not ready to learn or play!!!!
My child is 3 and can write her own name, count to twenty and recite her alphabet etc Yet this mini cult which appears to be hijacked by the scientologists tell me it is my daughters fault as she is the individual and is not ready.
I asked for my $600 back so i could pay my daughter as clearly she had the autonomy.
Montessori is a joke, a simple marketing joke. It is rife with “teachers” who have failed in most things but passed the easy montessori program, and still have the final ability to sit on their fat asses and blame the child for failing.
Every time i think or see montessori now i throw up in my mouth at their incompetence,negligence,lethargy,ignorance and insolence.
Jimmy
P.S only someone with the name Eli would make a comment like that.LMAO

]]> By: Eli http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-36 Eli Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:47:11 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-36 Just read the post on Montessori education. Daft musings is an apt title. Just read the post on Montessori education. Daft musings is an apt title.

]]> By: aghast http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-35 aghast Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:58:50 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-35 I applaud those who question the Montessori philosophy of education. Inquiry and questing of the world around you is a very Montessori thing to do. You are correct, there are many poor Montessori schools, as there are in public and other private schools. However, blinding rejecting it, and defaming it, without having first educated yourself is inexcusable and misleading for others. Montessori schools are not all the same. A school with Montessori materials, is not necessarily a successful Montessori environment. Any school can call itself a Montessori school. A parent, or citizen at large, MUST research and observe for themselves if a school meets the criteria of a traditional, authentic Montessori school and familiarize themselves with the organiziations that certify instructors and schools. I have found that the work of Maria Montessori is more than a system or method of education. It is deeper than that. It is essentially a way of life (which is why I suppose some view it as a religion, or toss around the word "cultish" in a mean-spirited fashion). The deeper goal is the cultivation of a new civilization with human beings who are both intelligent, and WISE. The current system of education, sure, is wonderfully efficient at the factory method of "information in, information out", but just because it is what you have been conditioned to does not mean it is the only way. it does not and has not guaranteed success. Is there another way? Perhaps a better way to build our society while educating our children? In the Montessori approach, children are viewed as a promise for the future of humanity. It's not just about knowledge, how many words you can spell, how high you can count at age 3. The philosophy is based on LOVE: A love of the child, a love of learning, a love of our world and of our fellow man. It is not a method that forces children into an idea determined in advance by adults. It is a method based on the scientific observation of children. Montessori teachers enter into a life's work of trying to create an intellectual and human civilization one child at a time. Each child is viewed as an indiviual, not a a class boiled down to it's lowest common denominator. Theirs is a big job. A job slightly larger than asking a child to memorize and reguritate information so they can fill in an "a", "b" or "c" on a scantron form to please their parents or their State. The ability to spit out information is not a measure of intelligence, or a measure of goodness, wisdom, or the ability to think freely without bias. I myself researched and read endlessly before deciding on a Montessori school for my children. Indeed, some schools are awful. But I took the time to find out for myself. I did not take the gossip of others as fact. Is this not true of all other kinds of schooling? It is the job of the parent to make wise and thoughtful choices on behalf of their children. One should do the work before tossing around misinformation and hurtful comments based on anecdotes before presenting their feelings as facts. I know this blog is old, but I felt I must respond. I applaud those who question the Montessori philosophy of education. Inquiry and questing of the world around you is a very Montessori thing to do. You are correct, there are many poor Montessori schools, as there are in public and other private schools. However, blinding rejecting it, and defaming it, without having first educated yourself is inexcusable and misleading for others.

Montessori schools are not all the same. A school with Montessori materials, is not necessarily a successful Montessori environment. Any school can call itself a Montessori school. A parent, or citizen at large, MUST research and observe for themselves if a school meets the criteria of a traditional, authentic Montessori school and familiarize themselves with the organiziations that certify instructors and schools.

I have found that the work of Maria Montessori is more than a system or method of education. It is deeper than that. It is essentially a way of life (which is why I suppose some view it as a religion, or toss around the word “cultish” in a mean-spirited fashion).

The deeper goal is the cultivation of a new civilization with human beings who are both intelligent, and WISE. The current system of education, sure, is wonderfully efficient at the factory method of “information in, information out”, but just because it is what you have been conditioned to does not mean it is the only way. it does not and has not guaranteed success. Is there another way? Perhaps a better way to build our society while educating our children?

In the Montessori approach, children are viewed as a promise for the future of humanity. It’s not just about knowledge, how many words you can spell, how high you can count at age 3. The philosophy is based on LOVE: A love of the child, a love of learning, a love of our world and of our fellow man.

It is not a method that forces children into an idea determined in advance by adults. It is a method based on the scientific observation of children.

Montessori teachers enter into a life’s work of trying to create an intellectual and human civilization one child at a time. Each child is viewed as an indiviual, not a a class boiled down to it’s lowest common denominator. Theirs is a big job. A job slightly larger than asking a child to memorize and reguritate information so they can fill in an “a”, “b” or “c” on a scantron form to please their parents or their State. The ability to spit out information is not a measure of intelligence, or a measure of goodness, wisdom, or the ability to think freely without bias.

I myself researched and read endlessly before deciding on a Montessori school for my children. Indeed, some schools are awful. But I took the time to find out for myself. I did not take the gossip of others as fact. Is this not true of all other kinds of schooling? It is the job of the parent to make wise and thoughtful choices on behalf of their children. One should do the work before tossing around misinformation and hurtful comments based on anecdotes before presenting their feelings as facts.

I know this blog is old, but I felt I must respond.

]]> By: barbara http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-34 barbara Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:13:35 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-34 I am sad to read this and can only assume the limited experience you have of Montessori educations and the 'schools' you have visited have not provided the wonderful education Montessori offers children. #1 you should not put a non-Montessori child into a Montessori Elementary class. NO CHILD in an accredited or well run school leaves without knowing how to read. The teacher and the training should be examined. I have been a Montessori teacher for 30 years, worked in 4 schools, was a head in one of them, and have never experienced the situation you have described. Your description is biased and deceptive and dangerous not to mention incorrect. You are SO SO wrong, people do NOT subscribe to June's ideas. I am sad to read this and can only assume the limited experience you have of Montessori educations and the ‘schools’ you have visited have not provided the wonderful education Montessori offers children. #1 you should not put a non-Montessori child into a Montessori Elementary class. NO CHILD in an accredited or well run school leaves without knowing how to read. The teacher and the training should be examined. I have been a Montessori teacher for 30 years, worked in 4 schools, was a head in one of them, and have never experienced the situation you have described. Your description is biased and deceptive and dangerous not to mention incorrect. You are SO SO wrong, people do NOT subscribe to June’s ideas.

]]> By: June http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-33 June Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:12:34 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-33 My experience with Montessori educated preschoolers is this; They lack discipline i.e. they break the rules excessively as if they are entitled to do whatever they want. They don't understand the concept of an adult instructing them to do something mandatory i.e. handing an object to the adult instead of dropping it on the floor and skipping off. They don't have much self discipline to learn something, if it immediately seems too hard they quit i.e. learning to write their own name. They lack social skills, again the lack of discipline i.e. they think in a self centered manner by taking things out of the hands of others, they don't play well with groups of children. I think it is important to understand that the most important aspect of a school is picking the right method/ philosophy for the child's personality. However, every literature I have read about raising children, including the subject of Gentle Discipline, emphasizes the importance of setting rules and boundaries for children to follow and having consequences when they are broken. I know Montessori says they don't allow children to "break rules", and I imagine they do have consequences when they are broken. However, it seems that the lack of structure and "rules" when generally speaking of the method of teaching is doing the children a great disservice. Instead of teaching kids that some times they *have* to do something, they are teaching them that they don't have to do anything until they feel like doing it. As adults I think we all know that sometimes we do in fact *have* to do things, even when we don't enjoy them or necessarily want to do it. My experience with Montessori educated preschoolers is this; They lack discipline i.e. they break the rules excessively as if they are entitled to do whatever they want. They don’t understand the concept of an adult instructing them to do something mandatory i.e. handing an object to the adult instead of dropping it on the floor and skipping off. They don’t have much self discipline to learn something, if it immediately seems too hard they quit i.e. learning to write their own name. They lack social skills, again the lack of discipline i.e. they think in a self centered manner by taking things out of the hands of others, they don’t play well with groups of children.

I think it is important to understand that the most important aspect of a school is picking the right method/ philosophy for the child’s personality. However, every literature I have read about raising children, including the subject of Gentle Discipline, emphasizes the importance of setting rules and boundaries for children to follow and having consequences when they are broken. I know Montessori says they don’t allow children to “break rules”, and I imagine they do have consequences when they are broken. However, it seems that the lack of structure and “rules” when generally speaking of the method of teaching is doing the children a great disservice. Instead of teaching kids that some times they *have* to do something, they are teaching them that they don’t have to do anything until they feel like doing it. As adults I think we all know that sometimes we do in fact *have* to do things, even when we don’t enjoy them or necessarily want to do it.

]]> By: Name Withheld By Request http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-32 Name Withheld By Request Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:41:59 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-32 I have been trained as a traditional teacher, ie. state certified public school, and Montessori certified. I totally agree, having to teach in a Montessori school presently, I see so much wrong and "cultish" with it every day. These poor kids don't know any better and have no discipline, if they don't want to do something they have no qualms about saying so and just stopping in the middle of their work. Supposedly that is ok in the Montessori method, although not in my classroom. They are not learning the expectations that normal society has and I will feel bad for these kids, who when they get to the work place, will be fired when they say they don't feel like doing something or don't finish the job! I would highly recommend that parents not send their child to a Montessori school, all I thought it was before I got into it was an elite private school, but it is so much less than that! Also, the teachers of Montessori only have to do an 8 week training and sometimes have to intern for a year under another barely trained teacher before they become a fully certified Montessori Teacher. Oh, and one last thought....Maria Montessori wrote her books 100 years ago and at that time her theories were revolutionary, but now with so much more scientific research and technology available in education, Montessori theories are so last century! Did you know with Children's House (ages 3-6) children are not supposed to take field trips nor use computers? Why so we can shelter them and keep them prisoner to the Montessori Classroom? Sound like a Cult? I have been trained as a traditional teacher, ie. state certified public school, and Montessori certified. I totally agree, having to teach in a Montessori school presently, I see so much wrong and “cultish” with it every day. These poor kids don’t know any better and have no discipline, if they don’t want to do something they have no qualms about saying so and just stopping in the middle of their work. Supposedly that is ok in the Montessori method, although not in my classroom. They are not learning the expectations that normal society has and I will feel bad for these kids, who when they get to the work place, will be fired when they say they don’t feel like doing something or don’t finish the job! I would highly recommend that parents not send their child to a Montessori school, all I thought it was before I got into it was an elite private school, but it is so much less than that! Also, the teachers of Montessori only have to do an 8 week training and sometimes have to intern for a year under another barely trained teacher before they become a fully certified Montessori Teacher. Oh, and one last thought….Maria Montessori wrote her books 100 years ago and at that time her theories were revolutionary, but now with so much more scientific research and technology available in education, Montessori theories are so last century! Did you know with Children’s House (ages 3-6) children are not supposed to take field trips nor use computers? Why so we can shelter them and keep them prisoner to the Montessori Classroom? Sound like a Cult?

]]> By: Educator for humanity http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-31 Educator for humanity Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:33:47 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-31 Hi, I am studying now montessori which i consider a very simple, therefore, great phylosophy (aid to life!) which was deformated and polluted after Maria Montessori's death. Why? It is not only money, I think the main reason is because during her life, the method did work... Who wants thinkers, leaders, decision-makers? All human history is about extinction of those who were different, isn't it!? What I observe today is a tragic parody of montessori materials focused marekting. It is a tragedy because the experiments are done on our children,i.e. our future. I vitnessed in many schools how they break the spirit of children... To be honest, not every montessori course student understands or is aware of the injustice, the spirit, etc. They just stand in line for the diplomas to earn 50.000 per annum. They do not care.. It is a market. The problem is our children are at stake. We need to do something to stop this fake montessori making money on our fears or immature behaviour... Unfortunately, montessori movement is growing and im afraid it will grow till ....we start truly love our children. to be continued.. Hi,

I am studying now montessori which i consider a very simple, therefore, great phylosophy (aid to life!) which was deformated and polluted after Maria Montessori’s death. Why? It is not only money, I think the main reason is because during her life, the method did work… Who wants thinkers, leaders, decision-makers? All human history is about extinction of those who were different, isn’t it!?

What I observe today is a tragic parody of montessori materials focused marekting. It is a tragedy because the experiments are done on our children,i.e. our future. I vitnessed in many schools how they break the spirit of children…

To be honest, not every montessori course student understands or is aware of the injustice, the spirit, etc. They just stand in line for the diplomas to earn 50.000 per annum. They do not care..

It is a market. The problem is our children are at stake. We need to do something to stop this fake montessori making money on our fears or immature behaviour…

Unfortunately, montessori movement is growing and im afraid it will grow till ….we start truly love our children.

to be continued..

]]> By: jane http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-30 jane Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:31:45 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-30 I was studying to become a Montessori Teacher. And like every newcomer I was caught up in the hype of "How great this Method of teaching was". As I studied the method I became concerned with How I was to prepare myself to be effective teacher. I was taught to seek my own inter spirit, my inter peace (according to the teaching Everyone has this) -- I was forbidden to "teach" the children to write their name or even one letter. I would have been fired if I did. Because if the child wasn't showing interest then the child was not ready. Maria Montessori was Catholic but became and created her own religion. Needless to say I left. This school sugar coats everything-- just like satan, he 's great at making things look perfect when they are truly evil. It is made to look Fabulous, but when you dig deep You'll find just how scarey it is. Parents if you are even considering this type of education please spare your child's soul. I was studying to become a Montessori Teacher. And like every newcomer I was caught up in the hype of “How great this Method of teaching was”. As I studied the method I became concerned with How I was to prepare myself to be effective teacher. I was taught to seek my own inter spirit, my inter peace (according to the teaching Everyone has this) — I was forbidden to “teach” the children to write their name or even one letter. I would have been fired if I did. Because if the child wasn’t showing interest then the child was not ready. Maria Montessori was Catholic but became and created her own religion. Needless to say I left. This school sugar coats everything– just like satan, he ‘s great at making things look perfect when they are truly evil. It is made to look Fabulous, but when you dig deep You’ll find just how scarey it is. Parents if you are even considering this type of education please spare your child’s soul.

]]> By: Felicity http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-29 Felicity Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:43:58 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-29 I am a preschool director in Australia, working within a play based programme drawing on a number of pedagogical influences - EG an emergent approach, influences from Reggio Emilia, some influence from Gardner's multiple intelligences, social constructivism etc... I recently visted a Montessori preschool and I have to say I felt concerned and uncomfortable. I recognise one visit is not enough to judge - but i do have some questions: The issue of the Montessori materials having such a prescribed and singular use... where is the room for creative or imaginative play? The seemingly rigid approach to children moving from one stage to the next - where's the room for children exceeding expectations - or seeing things in a way that is different from that of the educator? any comments? I am a preschool director in Australia, working within a play based programme drawing on a number of pedagogical influences – EG an emergent approach, influences from Reggio Emilia, some influence from Gardner’s multiple intelligences, social constructivism etc…

I recently visted a Montessori preschool and I have to say I felt concerned and uncomfortable. I recognise one visit is not enough to judge – but i do have some questions: The issue of the Montessori materials having such a prescribed and singular use… where is the room for creative or imaginative play? The seemingly rigid approach to children moving from one stage to the next – where’s the room for children exceeding expectations – or seeing things in a way that is different from that of the educator? any comments?

]]> By: Jack Windisch http://www.daftmusings.com/2007/01/31/the-cult-of-montessori/#comment-28 Jack Windisch Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:17:56 +0000 http://daftmusings.com/?p=9#comment-28 Having homeschooled my three daughters in a foreign country, and having seen them become fluent in three languages by the age of 13 and learning a fourth, I know a little about about what it takes to educate children. Seeing so many serious critiques about the Montessori Method, I would like to inform you, while in Switzerland, I picked up a Montessori brochure at a local Swiss Montessori school. It plainly stated that the philosophy of the Montessori system, which may have meant only in Swiss Montessori schools -- I don't know, was that of Theosophy. Now, if this was true there it may also be true in other countries. Therefore, I challenge all parents to study what Theosophy philosophy teaches and you just might have a much better understanding of the Montessori educational system. Yes, this is a serious subject. There is a saying, "The unaware are unaware of being unaware." Be bold and brave -- check everything out -- you child's future is at stake wherever and however you educate them. Having homeschooled my three daughters in a foreign country, and having seen them become fluent in three languages by the age of 13 and learning a fourth, I know a little about about what it takes to educate children.

Seeing so many serious critiques about the Montessori Method, I would like to inform you, while in Switzerland, I picked up a Montessori brochure at a local Swiss Montessori school.

It plainly stated that the philosophy of the Montessori system, which may have meant only in Swiss Montessori schools — I don’t know, was that of Theosophy.

Now, if this was true there it may also be true in other countries. Therefore, I challenge all parents to study what Theosophy philosophy teaches and you just might have a much better understanding of the Montessori educational system.

Yes, this is a serious subject. There is a saying, “The unaware are unaware of being unaware.” Be bold and brave — check everything out — you child’s future is at stake wherever and however you educate them.

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