Dr Maria Montessori was the first female physician in Italy, and her path began with a personal interest in assisting the development and education of special needs children. Her success with these children led her to wonder about the true potential of ‘normal’ children, and thus in 1907 she opened her own school and the Montessori method of education was formed.

The philosophy of Montessori differs from traditional educational methods as it is child centred, focused on developing the potential of the individual and responding to their natural desire to work and learn. Montessori schools utilise specially designed materials to awaken this desire and channel the children’s curiosity into a positive learning experience. Children understand what they learn by associating an abstract concept with a concrete sensorial experience and in this manner the child is actually learning and not memorising. The foundation of this method of education is to allow children to progress at their own pace, so that fast learners are not held back and slow learners are not frustrated by their inability to keep up. The role of teachers is to observe and guide the children, stimulating their natural desire to learn and encouraging them to be inquisitive rather than simply disseminating information from a set curriculum.

Montessori is about more than just academic education. The programs are adapted to the needs and interests of the children, exposing them to materials and environments that appeal to all their senses and which develop their intellectual and emotional intelligence as well as their physical abilities. Children develop key character traits and social skills such as self-discipline, independence, cooperation, motivation, empathy, respect, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. With this foundation, they are better prepared to cope in an ever-changing and complex world.

A study published in late 2006 in the American journal ‘Science’ investigated the social and academic impacts of a Montessori education. The results indicated that children from a Montessori education have improved behavioural and academic skills compared to those from the mainstream education system. The Montessori educated children performed better in math and reading, had superior social skills, and the older children were able to write with more complex sentence structures, compose more creative essays, and had more positive responses to social dilemmas.

Montessori has gained recognition all over the world with a variety of schools available, teaching children from early childhood right through to adolescence. To find out more about the documentary or to purchase it online click here.