Maria Montessori: Answers to Key Questions

Below are the brief answers to the questions about Maria Montessori (M.M.) in English, formatted for easy copying into a school notebook. 1. Early life and struggle with medical education Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in Italy. At that time, medical schools were reserved almost exclusively for men. She faced great opposition from society and her father. To study anatomy, she often had to work alone in the lab at night because it was considered improper for a woman to be present among male students. Despite these obstacles, she graduated in 1896, becoming one of the first female doctors in Italy. 2. Work with mentally disabled children and the beginning of her system While working at a psychiatric clinic, Maria observed that children with intellectual disabilities were kept in empty rooms without any stimulation. She realized that their problem was pedagogical rather than medical. She developed special sensory materials to help them learn through touch and movement. Her students eventually passed state exams as well as "normal" children, which proved the effectiveness of her developing method. 3. Personal life and problems with her son Maria had a relationship with a colleague, Giuseppe Montesano, and gave birth to a son, Mario, in 1898. Because they were not married, a public scandal would have ruined her career. She was forced to send Mario to be raised by a family in the countryside. She visited him often, but he only joined her permanently as a teenager. Later, Mario became her most dedicated assistant and successor. 4. Global success of M.M and her system In 1907, she opened the first "Children's House" (Casa dei Bambini) in Rome. Her success was immediate. She began traveling the world to give lectures and train teachers. Her books were translated into many languages, and Montessori schools opened across Europe, America, and Asia. She became a world-renowned educator, and her system was recognized as a revolution in schooling. 5. The main principles of M.M's system The core philosophy is "Help me to do it myself." The main principles include: - A prepared environment with specialized educational materials. - Freedom of choice: children choose their own tasks and work at their own pace. - The teacher acts as a guide and observer rather than a lecturer. - Mixed-age classrooms where older children help younger ones. - Focus on sensory development and practical life skills. 6. Life and successes after the Second World War After spending the war years in India, Maria returned to Europe. She dedicated her final years to advocating for world peace and the rights of the child. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times (1949, 1950, and 1951). She continued to travel and teach until her death in 1952 in the Netherlands. Today, her method remains one of the most popular and respected educational systems globally.