Who Was Maria Montessori?

We are all aware of Montessori schools, i.e. schools for children who are very young. Yet, not many people know about the founder of these schools. The beautiful mind behind the concept of Montessori Schools is Maria Montessori.

Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. She got her school education from a school at Chiaravalle, and her parents later moved to Rome to provide better education facilities to their only child. Her parents wanted her to become a teacher, as teaching was the only real profession that women could take at that time. She said that she wanted to become a doctor, but at that time, attending a medical college was considered unthinkable for girls. When the Education Minister strictly told her that she could not attend Medical College, she replied that "One day, I know that I shall become a doctor".

She forced her way into Medical College, where she overcame many horrible difficulties, and became the first female doctor of medicine in Italy in 1896. She started Montessori Schools when she was asked to make an infant school for slum children. Her school gained popularity and more branches were opened. As the word spread, she gained International recognition and fame. She finally started taking her time to training teachers.

Maria Montessori's teaching philosophy was "Children learn by experiencing the world around them...they learn by doing." Small children are actually more capable than we give them credit for/allow them to be.  Sometimes, we, as adults, think we have to do EVERYTHING for small children, or sometimes, to expedite a task, we don't have the patience to sit and supervise as the child tries the task himself.