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07.03.08, 21:11 PM General Topics
7 replies
Didn't Maria Montessori develop an educational philosophy for poor Italian orphans who were expected to one day become dutiful factory workers? Pure Montessori seems awfully controlling to me, for example, taking materials away from a child with an explanation that they can have them back if used 'the proper way'? I read a scenario where a child took something like the brown stairs and the pink blocks and began to fantasy role play, calling one block the mommy and one the daddy and was discouraged. It seemed to me the child was just trying to make sense out of the unknown by applying his/her own experience to it. I'm hoping for no flames. None intended by me. Just trying to understand it. I understand most American schools are not purists, so maybe that makes a difference. Only then how do you know what you are getting? TIA [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.03.08, 09:11 PM Flag
 

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OMG, go to bed. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.03.08, 09:17 PM Flag
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yes Montessori mom, whatever you say [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.03.08, 09:39 PM Flag
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I'd rather talk to the Sectin 8 mom who doesn't work! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.03.08, 09:41 PM Flag
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what?????????????????????????????????????????????????? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.03.08, 10:01 PM Flag
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Why shouldn't kids learn that school materials have a purpose and that there is a time and a place for fantasy play? I've had kids in Montessori programs for 8 years and they have not suffered nor are they heading for the factory. In fact, DD (now 10) had imaginary lambs she would bring to school and tie up outside each morning. (No, her name is not Mary, LOL.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.03.08, 11:14 PM Flag
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Yes, it was developed for poor undereducated Italian orphans. As with anything - if you start at the bottom you have no where to go but up. I am so not a fan of Montessori either! Especially the "original" montessori program. These days, anyone can slap montessori in their name and it doesn't mean they practice exactly what MM intended. Some do a little, some do a lot - but the entire philosophy is counterintuitive (to me). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.04.08, 05:01 AM Flag
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In a pure traditional Montessori program, there is a feeling that young children have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy, and therefore fantasy should be postponed until the child is firmly grounded in reality. The tasks and activities the children do are reality oriented.Montessori said that it is a mistake for children to amuse themselves with toys, that children are not really interested in toys for long without the real intellectual interest of associating them with sizes and numbers. In Montessori, each manipulative material is focused toward a specific learning concept and has a step-by-step procedure for being used. Math counting rods, for example, are not to be transformed into castle walls. However, some would say that the very act of fantasy transformation *is* the way children begin to make sense of the world and to suppress that fantasy play in early childhood goes entirely against the nature of a child. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 08:11 PM Flag
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