Teach Your Children Well
Montessori inspires children toward academic excellence and nurtures the curiosity, creativity, and imagination hidden within…
by Bridgett Wheeler
and test scores alone. Montessori inspires children toward academic excellence and nurtures the curiosity, creativity, and imagination hidden within every human being. A Montessori program is based on warmth, kindness, and respect. There is a strong sense of community among the children. The classes are more like little villages, with powerful friendships and a clear sense of group identity. Teachers are normally seen as mentors and friends.
For many, paying tuition for private Montessori can be a struggle that demands certain sacrifices. Is it worth it? One parent discusses why she thinks so.
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ou 're driving through a fancypants neighborhood daydreaming about kitchen upgrades and you hear it: that alluring little voice that reminds you that you, too, could have quartz counter tops if you just send your kids to public school. It's not that public schools are bad. You went to public school and so did most of your friends—all are decent humans. Except Karen, but let’s not go there. You start to make a case for all the things you would do for your child if you didn't have to pay that tuition: We could invest the money towards their college fund ... We could take international trips and experience different cultures ... or .... Let’s be real. It’s unlikely you will be diligent enough to put all the saved funds towards your kid’s 529 plan, and an international trip will be so much more
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meaningful to a child who has the global understanding that comes with a Montessori education. It’s normal to let this little voice take over sometimes. So far, you have made a selfless choice to sacrifice for the betterment of your child. But now, your child is starting kindergarten or the first grade, and there is a free option. It’s tempting to throw in the towel, or should I say ... “folding cloth.” So why should you continue to send your child to a Montessori school instead of a more traditional elementary school? How do they differ and what makes Montessori better? There are five aspects found in elementary Montessori program that you rarely find so well balanced in most schools: a love of learning, a desire to understand deeply, values that are universal, a global perspective, and a tradition
of community service. Okay, that’s great. How does this help my kid get into MIT? Let’s break it down ... I. Inspiring Children to Work Hard and Achieve Academic Excellence Montessori is one of the most sophisticated pre-collegiate programs available anywhere in North America. It has been described as the ultimate giftedand-talented program that is offered to a very wide range of students. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. What makes Montessori special is its ability to nurture talent without needless competition and stress. In a nutshell, Montessori children never lose the joy of learning. Montessori is, first and foremost, concerned with a child’s character and emotional development, rather than academics for grades
II. Building Character and Teaching Universal Values There is an old saying that if you abandon a garden, the weeds will run wild. Abandon a child’s moral and spiritual education, and the weeds of confusion, materialism, self-centeredness, and spiritual emptiness will take hold. Dr. Montessori observed that the elementary years are a sensitive period for moral reasoning. The elementary program integrates character development and family involvement throughout the curriculum. The teaching of kindness and courtesy, self-discipline and selfrespect, and fundamental values is crucial in a child’s moral development, sense of dignity, and academic success. With proper guidance from parents and educators, children can (and will) excel. III. Montessori Schools Strive to Create Global Understanding They tend to attract teachers from all over the world. It is normal to find an international student body in a Montessori school anywhere in the world.
TOMORROW'S CHILD © § MARCH 2021 § WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG
