Maria Montessori (1870–1952)

A tough read, especially a 120 page stretch in the middle (chapers 5-15). But, it has a special kind of complex elegance. Montessori puts forward her theories of education and the whole state of the human race. It’s a real, full, coherent education theory that actually feels workable. This I think is unique in education (I’m no expert). And it is all expressed with such intelligence. I kept finding comments that just needed to be highlighted, and I copied out six pages of quotes.

This is show more not a book to pick up lightly, and it’s not the one you want to go to if you are thinking of putting your children in a Montessori school and are looking for introduction into the method. This book is work. Also, the book extends far beyond the Montessori teaching method, and only some of the details of that system are included here. Maria Montessori gave the lectures that eventually became this book while in India during WWII. She had gone to Holland after being exiled from Italy by Mussolini in the 1930’s. When the Germans overran Holland, she was placed in India. She was in her 70’s and had successfully been teaching her method for 40 years. This was book was a life's work in summary.

I think these quotes cover part of her theory as expressed here:

We, by contrast, are recipients. Impressions pour into us, and we store them in our minds; but we ourselves remain apart from them, just as a vase keeps separate from the water it contains. Instead, the child undergoes a transformation. Impressions do not merely enter his mind; they form it. They incarnate themselves into him. The child creates his own “mental muscles,” using for this what he finds in the world about him. We have named this type of mentality, The Absorbent Mind. p. 24

The hand is in direct connection with man’s soul, and not only with the individual’s soul, but also with the different ways of life the men have adopted on the earth in different places and at different times. p. 138

We often forget that imagination is a force for the discovery of the truth. p161

The pity of it is that after six, children can no longer develop character and its qualities spontaneously. Thenceforward the missionaries, who are also imperfect, find themselves faced with considerable difficulties. They are working on the smoke, and not on the fire p190

If we examine the programmes of work recommended for use in schools, we see at once their poverty and dullness. The education of today is humiliating. It produces an inferiority complex and artificially lowers the powers of man. Its very organization sets a limit to knowledge well below the natural level. p195 show less

Here's a fantastic read to better understand Maria Montessori's philosophy, influences and, even, biography -as she retells how her children's houses came into existence.

Contrary to other readers (maybe more used to fiction or non academic books, I don't know) I didn't find it challenging, far from that. Full packed with informations, she manages to bring altogether whole areas of scientific expertise (pedagogy, psychology, sociology) that, coupled to her own experience in dealing with show more children with special needs and/or from impoverished backgrounds, form a riveting and fascinating account of her pedagogy and ideals. Published for the first time in 1912, the science is of course at times shockingly outdated (for instance, her reliance on psychometric). However, not only the core ideas of her methods and goals, still relevant nowadays, is put forward warmly and poetically but, also, she brushes asides criticisms, the same kind of misunderstandings surrounding her approach now and then, with delightful ease. Her passion is contagious and, considering her huge impact on today's educational systems in many countries, anyone with even a slight interest in education should read this. As a parent, I particularly enjoyed her holistic approach, humanistic ideal and, insistence on self-discipline and independence. show less

Deep and Important --recommend to all teachers, lawmakers, and parents!

This reads sort of like Einstein's Dreams as Montessori puzzles out why things are as they are and why we haven't notice the child is born to learn if we allow it to happen by providing the right environment and materials and teaching methods. This is an excerpt to show the kind of thinking in the book. Highly interesting! Deep! "Supposing we put a little levity into this weighty subject and tell a little story. A show more certain young man wished to marry and recounted all the praises of the lady of his choice. An elder guide responded in writing and this is what happened: The young man praises her beauty; the guide writes a zero. The young man finding beauty is not enough, states that she is rich; the guide writes zero. The young man says, she is learned, but the guide again writes zero. The young man says: “All this means nothing, well, she is athletic, she rides, swims, plays tennis.” Again the guide writes zero. The young man goes on describing all sorts of qualities which his lady-love possesses and the guide continues to write zero against them. Then the young man says: “She is of good character,” and the guide says: “That is something,” and writes a figure one in front of all the zeros. All the other merits acquire their value from this one quality and with that one in front of all the zeros her total value increases a thousandfold. So it is with civilization, all the achievements are naught and lead to destruction, but if love is there they all acquire a great value." show less

In The Mass Explained to Children, the great educator Maria Montessori explains the whats and whys of the Catholic mass in a easy, clear way. There are no complex theological expositions, but rather simple definitions and explanations for what things are (e.g. a chasuble or a burse), and why things happen (e.g. the consecration).

After some background on the history of the mass, Montessori guides the reader step-by-step from the beginning of the Mass of the Catechumens, through the Mass of show more the Faithful, all the way to the “Ite missa est” and the Last Gospel, explaining everything that happens along the way. This book is aimed at children, so the explanations can be a bit simplistic, therefore those seeking deeper, more technical reasons for the actions of mass should look elsewhere. However, I can see how this book would be perfect for adults seeking an easy “because” for endless “why”s. Plus, the book has both Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, so the theology has been checked and found solid.

The mass explained here is what is now know as the Tridentine or Extraordinary form, but there is still plenty of useful and relevant information here for those who attend the ordinary form. Also, being published in 1932, decades before the ICEL, Montessori's translations are not identical with the modern “standard” (but resemble the Anglican Rite I, as well as, to a certain extent, the latest Catholic translation). Also, while it does not use “ineffable”, the vocabulary is a bit elevated and is better geared for parents or more advanced readers. Montessori's use of the word “holocaust” to describe the sacrifice of the mass (she defines the term), falls into this category, because the word's modern connotations may cause some confusion.

Overall, however, The Mass Explained to Children is an excellent reference for children and adults seeking answers for why the mass happens the way it does. show less