Maria Montessori's 142nd birth anniversary: Google pays tribute

The Times of India ^ | August 31, 2012

[grundle]

NEW DELHI: Google, on Friday, displayed an attractive doodle to mark the 142nd birth anniversary of Maria Montessori.

Maria Montessori (August 31, 1870 - May 6, 1952) is best remembered for her educational methodology to measure and observe students, a move which gave rise to a new form of education.

She was also a noted humanitarian and physician.

Maria Montessori's works were mostly based on observing mentally disabled children and assisting them in doing their physical activities using their senses and tactile experience.

She carried out her research work and psychological studies in elementary schools and eventually developed her own pedagogy based on science.

Today her 'scientific pedagogy', an evolution in education, is now practised in schools across the world.

Her research suggested that a schoolroom should be equipped with teaching material and other child-sized furnishings giving children the liberty to choose and carry out activities of their choices.

Her work strongly believed in identifying a child's creative skills by allowing him to act freely, and in the process improve his/her internal program.

Montessori visited India and conferred training courses and lectures at various universities.

Google pays tribute to Maria Montessori and her pedagogical methods with a doodle that displays a collection of her educational tools.

[AlexW]

I got into Montessori education with my first daughter, and made a few educational materials to sell by mail order.
Montessori Models Inc.
It is a great early education system.

[Mrs. Don-o]

We homeschooled and I found a whole lot of approaches from Montessori that were extremely useful and good for our boys. I really think she’s one of the Great People of education, 100,000 times moreso than the more famous ones in history (e.g. the execrable Dewey).