Dr. Maria Montessori
We pay unending gratitude to Dr. Maria Montessori who helped pave the way not only for women as scientists, leaders, and educators, but also for children who are inherently deserving of respect as the future of our world.
Dr. Montessori was a gifted observer, taking ownership of the path of her own education as well as the needs of others. She is the recipient of numerous degrees in engineering, psychology, and medicine—graduating from the Università di Roma as one of the first female doctors in Italy.
Her clinical work in institutions and hospitals allowed her the opportunity to observe children whose needs were unmet and misunderstood. Through her research, Dr. Montessori considered the work of other physicians and educationists and their observations and discoveries through work with children who were deemed “uneducable”. From her research and her observations regarding children’s senses and their natural tendencies, she developed a “method” of education for all children.
Considering the needs of working mothers in Rome and the needs of their children, Dr. Montessori took the opportunity to implement her educational method when she opened the first Casa dei Bambini in Rome in 1907.
Since then, her educational philosophy has been studied and employed by countless educators and has had influence on other educational practices. There are an estimated 60,000 Montessori schools across the world. Maria Montessori wrote many books about her philosophy, gave lectures across the world on the topics of education, peace, and human rights, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thank you, Dr. Montessori, for your work and your example.