Montessori, Maria
Please post your comments and suggestions for this article.
Comment by Laura Taylor on April 10th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
What on earth is the third paragraph in the introduction about? I do not like this one bit. It is not supported in the body, and what education system for children IS possible without a clear adult figure? I prefer the original wikipedia article, and that is a shame! I have written many articles here and would be happy to speak with the author if they like.
Comment by Jennifer Tanabe on April 12th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Thank you Laura for your thought-provoking feedback! The article was written several years ago (8 actually), so as you can imagine the author is no longer actively involved in the project. As the editor of this area, however, I can review the article. It seems to me that the point being made, albeit rather ineffectively, is that Montessori education focuses on allowing the child to develop their own interests and abilities, talents and passions, and the teacher acts as a somewhat passive guide rather than an expert imparting knowledge and teaching skills, including social norms and historical traditions which the child may not discover so readily (or be motivated to learn) on their own. A complete and balanced education, which nurtures maturity as an individual and a social being, might need an adult in a more subjective position, an authority figure with a parental heart, to teach and guide the students to fulfill their potential and be well prepared to enter society as adults. In any case, I will review the article and improve that paragraph. Thank you again for taking the time to comment and make NWE a valuable information resource.
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