What do you think about the Montessori educational philosophy?

To me, it seems too much influenced by a Rousseau- or Dewey (part II & part III)-like philosophy that children are born good and we just need to let them grow up however they feel like it. Yet, on the other hand, the Montessori style seems good because it seems not to force all students to be at the level of the lowest common denominator.

Does anyone know how discipline is handled in the Montessori method? From what I've heard, Montessori lacks rules or makes the children form their own rules, viz., all things the French Revolution would support…

I went to a montessori school for 4th and 5th grade(8-10 years old).  From what I remember, I spent my time there drawing pictures.  The notable aspect of it was that I was in a learning environment alongside kids of varying ages(probably 6 year age range).  We were not all learning the same things or necessarily together in the same part of the classroom, but we regarded all of the varying aged kids as classmates, and we knew each other well as such.  What impact that had I don't exactly know, but I tend to think it had somewhat of a family/sibling effect.  

I got a pretty good response on the SD thread:

If you want to understand montessori education, read Montessori in her own words:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345336569/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345336569&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805041567/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0805041567&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

So many educators, schools claim to be "Montessori" but have drifted a lot from her original ideas--Catholicism being one of them.  Her books are not hard to understand and I think many parents, especially those who are homeschoolers, would benefit from reading them.  Personally, I think that her methods of self directed learning are really useful in the younger years.  Her ideas have helped me as a father understand how young children think and learn, and the importance of setting up an environment at home where children are welcomed into participating in the life of the family instead of blocked off by baby gates and relegated to play rooms and simulating adult things instead of participating in them.  The essence of montessori education is "teach me to do it myself."  

For example, we never gave my son a sippy cup.  When he was ready, we gave him a real glass, and he pours his own drinks.  yes, this may involve spilling it, but by getting his own orange juice from his own Pete-sized pitcher he is learning fluid dynamics.  We do not have pretend food or a play kitchen, but he is allowed to help adults with preparing food.  We do have a pretend shopping cart but he prefers to use it for chariot racing.  my son can peel cucuмbers and cut them with my good Wusthof paring knife, supervised of course.  He has this thing called a "learning tower" you can google it and probably build one yourself, that is like an adjustable step stool that allows your child to be at eye level with your kitchen countertop or table.

we have a lot of montessori toys, all organized neatly in a corner of our living room.  not as neatly as my wife would like, but neat enough for my son to tell where everything belongs.  every box is transparent so there is no wondering what is inside.  different baskets hold different learning materials.  he chooses what he wants to do.  some of the materials i got on craigslist.  some things we made ourselves, and my wife does a lot of cool stuff with fabric…. i get a lot of ideas from blogs and this book called "Montessori: Play and Learn"  we don't homeschool because i am often not home and not feeling well but my mom uses a lot of these toys with him and incorporates him into her day in a way that is pretty consistent with montessori.

i probably could operate my own montessori school in my house with all the stuff we have if i wasn't puking my guts out all the time

as for sin, montessori education is primarily geared toward children under the age of reason.  It focuses on the whole development of the child:  physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  i think montessori believed that truth is something children are naturally thirsty for.  which is true… we have the law that is written in our hearts, and as Pascal said, "There is a god shaped vacuum in every one of us."  I'll be honest, most of what I learned about Montessori in my education classes in grad school did not focus on the Catholic aspects of Montessori education, but it is about working with the child's inherent and innate desire to learn the Truth rather than working against it through manipulation and maligning the child's every attempt at taking initiative and risk.  the mental experience of learning is not divorced from the tactile experience of learning…….unlike the preschool my son is enrolled with that seems to involve too much desk time for 4 year olds.  It's about giving the child an ordered environment with materials that correct themselves, which eliminates frustration.

as a parent/educator I think it works really well with my child in the developmental stage he is in, and with the type of parent/educator i am, and the type of situation we have…your mileage may vary.

i am thinking of my son's school as just babysitting and the real learning happening at home

when my son gets older, and if i am still kicking and able to play an active role in his education, i think i will favor more classical type models of education as he gets older.  but I think that self directed, play based learning is ideal for the under 7 set.  My son (4) is already reading short sentences and figuring out phonics without having to do workbooks and such.  of course that can be so individual….everyone learns to read at their own pace.  while montessori elementary and high schools exist, I don't think I would opt for it after say, 2nd grade…..which often coincides with the age of reason

i am not sure what i'd do if and when i homeschool after that age.  possibly something along the lines of the Well-Trained Mind or put together my own catholic literature based homeschool units, although NY State Dept of Education are abunch of bastardsand i'm not sure how much govt BS i can deal with with my heart problems

What does she think about homeschooling ("family education" as Pope Pius XI called it), do you know?

I don't understand why you don't just read her stuff yourself. Do your own lifting instead of asking others to lug you about on their shoulders! Put otherwise, Teacher, homeschool thyself.

Furthermore, even from the few comments already posted, it ought to be eminently clear that "Montessori" is a label frequently employed by people who have little or no interest in the woman, her educational outlook, and her writings and activities. Such people are brothers under the skin to those who blithely tell you that Obamacare will bring equality (whatever that means) to U.S. medical practice, that diversity is our greatest strength, and that a Snickers bar is nutritious. Do you believe them?

… I had always had a stereotypical understanding of it [i.e., the Montessori method] (unruly kids finger painting all day and calling that "education"). The fact that the mainstream sees it negatively should have been my first clue to take a closer look!

Precisely!

It may be en vogue but that isn't necessarily the same as mainstream. I think when something is en vogue it means it is popular within certain circles as opposed to what's mainstream.  

It may be en vogue but that isn't necessarily the same as mainstream. I think when something is en vogue it means it is popular within certain circles as opposed to what's mainstream.

Dolores's complaint is certainly understandable, but the point is that "Montessori" has come to be a term whose actual meaning has suffered radical dissociation from its generally perceived (i.e., "mainstream") meaning. (This may well be true only or primarily in the USA. I know other Brits who have said much the same thing that ggreg writes with regard to Montessori schools in Blighty.)

Put otherwise, like such terms as organically grown and environmentally sound, Montessori now registers with the mindless American many as simply another way of saying "This is good; buy it."