THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was physician, educator, and philosopher, as well as a humanitarian. Her life's work involved the observation of children and how they learn. The first woman in Italy to graduate with a degree in medicine from the University of Rome, Montessori worked with mentally retarded children. She observed how wonderfully they learned using her theories. In 1907, based on her research in child development, education, and philosophy, she opened the Casa dei Bambini, teaching children of normal intelligence using her methods. She spent the remaining part of her life writing, lecturing and teaching others about her methods. She has inspired a renaissance in the field of education that is unparalleled to this day. She has inspired a world-wide spread of her philosophy of education and there are Montessori programs throughout the world.