Biography
Mary Montessori's biography will not leave anyone indifferent. She literally changed the world for children and their parents. Maria possessed sufficient will, confidence and spirit of the Spirit, to make all the tests, which prepared for her XX century, continue the matter of all his life and not give up.Childhood and youth
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1871 in Italy in the family of an official. Her mother had aristocratic roots, was well educated and engaged in raising her daughter. In 1875, Maria went to primary school in Rome, where two years had previously translated her father.
At the age of 13 she entered the secondary technical school. It is noteworthy that this institution had the right to visit only boys, and Maria became the first girl who had proved his right to teach and crossed his threshold.
Successfully finished school in three years, Maria continued his studies at the Technical Institute. There, its sphere of interests shifted from algebra and engineering on the natural science cycle of items. At the end of the institute, the girl wanted to continue the study of medicine. It was a bold decision, the father could not accept him, and for several years they did not speak.
For an amazing and smart girl, there were no closed doors. In 1890, she was taken to the University of Sapirez by a free listener for a course on natural sciences. Soon, however, she became a full student. In 1892, Maria received a diploma who allowed me to enter a medical school in the same university. The difficulties began in autopsy classes, which was not allowed to be admitted together with men, - had to go through the practice attempted alone. Nevertheless, Maria Montessori mastered the course and was even awarded an academic award.
All time student student worked (including because it was deprived of material support) in the clinic, in the ambulance service. In 1895, she received the post of assistant in the hospital. For the past two years of study, the future of the pedagogy lasted the pediatrics and psychiatry, worked in the Pediatric Consultation office, eventually became an expert in children's medicine.
In 1896, Maria graduated from the University, became Dr. Medicine. At its graduation lecture, there was a father who realized that her daughter was not in vain received education and worthy of respect. Natives finally recalled.
Even if after studying Maria Montessori did not accomplish a single discovery, respectfully respect is already the fact that her perseverance and thirst for knowledge created a precedent for receiving higher education girls.
Science and pedagogy
Interest in pedagogy in Maria Montessori arose during working with "Frenastian" (mentally retarded) children in 1896-1901. To move on, the doctor studied and personally transferred to the Italian language of the work of Eduard Segen and Jean Itara. According to the results of the study, it became clear that a quarter of the backward children had a chance to become full-fledged members of society.For his patients from 2 to 7 years old, Maria Montessori has developed special conditions, in particular, small light chairs, as well as special teaching aids, the purpose of which was to form self-service skills, work on the house (wipe the dust, wash the dishes, clean the shoes) and care for the garden . Thanks to the well-organized regime of the day, but at the same time the freedom of movement and choice of occupations, children, according to her observations, "showed spontaneous self-discipline."
Montessori's education system was successful because some special kids showed the best results than their normotypical peers. The government gave the creation of an Orthofrenic Institute, where teachers were preparing for working with mentally retarded children. Maria appointed his co-director, and she remained in this position until 1901. The institute was successful and supported by officials.
In 1907, thanks to the financial support, Maria Montessori opened the "House of Children", where healthy children were studying. The house was equipped with the type of modern kindergartens (more precisely, the gardens are made by its type), with a convenient for children with space. Children could move freely and choose their own lesson. Maria did not participate in the activities of children, but watched them. So the doctor found that children more often choose practical occupation than gaming. Methods of early development Montessori was founded on its own initiative of the child, its absorbing mind and the development of natural abilities. The results of the observations are described in the book "The method of scientific pedagogy, applied to children's education in the children's homes."
An obvious advantage of such a system of education is the early socialization and independence of the child. To solve the tasks, the children were based on instincts, they themselves searched for solutions. The minuses include lack of children's creativity and learning games. It was believed that so children do not develop fantasy. At the same time, in the XXI century, it was proved that primitive toys need for the development of fantasy.
Mary Montessori's education system proved that the recognition of children by individuals allows you to fully implement the potential of each child. The teacher developed the 19 Commandments for Parents, the meaning of which - "Children learn what surrounds them" and "help a child to do it yourself." The list of commandments to this day disassemble the quotes. The teacher was confident that in childhood the foundations of a healthy psyche are laid and the boundaries of the child's capabilities are determined. All restrictions a person puts himself.
Until the 30s of the 20th century, the Montessori pedagogy developed rapidly around the world, but in his native italy, it was concluded from a dead point only in 1923 after the letter of Benito Mussolini. The head of state even personally visited pedagogical courses, a photo of the visit was preserved. But as the Nazi ideology develops, the attitude towards the Montessori system and its creator became worse. In 1934, Mary and Son had to leave the country. In subsequent years, Maria Montessori traveled through various countries, lectured and promoted its technique.
Personal life
Maria Montessori met his love while at study at the university. It was a colleague - the doctor Giuseppe Montesano. The family did not give permission to marriage on time, but March 31, 1898 they had a son of Mario. Maria wanted to preserve the relationship in secret with the condition that none of them will create a family with another person. Giuseppe did not restrain the promise and soon married. Maria, in turn, left the university clinic and plunged into the work.
Mary Sometimes condemned for the fact that, by developing other people's children, she gave her son. However, the baby was illegitimate, the mother fell into a difficult situation. At distant relatives in the father's line, her son spent only the first years. Then Maria took him, and traveled the family together. In addition, no offense to mother in Mario Montessori was left, he supported her during his lifetime and continued the case after her death.
Death
Maria Montessori lived 81 years old and died in Holland in 1952. The cause of death was hemorrhage into the brain. Until the latter, she was active, traveled, participated in congresses and conferences (in 1950 she represented Italy at the UNESCO conference), published books ("full course of upbringing" in 1949).The case of an outstanding woman continues: in 1929, Maria and his son initiated the creation of the International Montessori Association (AMI), which still exists. The contribution of Montessori to the pedagogy is invaluable.
Quotes
- "The first instinct of the child is to act independently, without the help of others, so his first conscious step towards finding independence is to protect against those who are trying to help him."
- "Training still understand only how the development of reason, while it should be the source of the forces of updating and creation."
- "The whole life of a child is a movement to improving himself, to the completion of the creation of a person."
Bibliography
- 1909 - "My Method"
- 1910 - "Scientific Pedagogy"
- 1916 - "Self-education and self-education in elementary school
- 1922 - "Baby in the Temple"
- 1923 - "From the child to a teenager"
- 1923 - "The method of scientific pedagogy, applied to children's education in the children's homes"
- 1934 - "Mathematics on the method of Montessori for children of 5-8 years"
- 1936 - "The Secret of Childhood"
- 1949 - "Absorbing the Mind of the Child"
- 1949 - "Full course of upbringing"