My 38-minute overview of Montessori education, excerpted from my lecture on Objectivism, which is part of my Philosophy of Education course. Maria Montessori (1870–1952) was an Italian educator and theorist whose system of “scientific pedagogy” led to the development of Montessori schools worldwide.
More Montessori information and recommendations at my Montessori Education page.
* Please note that in the biographical introduction I say that Montessori graduated in engineering and in medicine when I should have said she studied both engineering and medicine and received her degree in the latter. Thanks to Peter Longfield for pointing that out.
An absolutely remarkable woman, she opened the mind of the child to me. Several years after reading my first book by her I found myself at the helm of a summer day camp put on by a Montessori School – without any professional qualifications (filling a suddenly vacated post). I credit her for its success, and one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life.