Maria Montessori
- @womxninSTEM
- Aug 31, 2019
- 1 min read
Maria Montessori
Aug. 31, 1870 - May 6, 1952
Italian Physician + Educator
From a young age, Montessori broke barriers when she enrolled in classes at an all-boys technical school with the hopes of becoming an engineer. She ended up changing her career path and began medical school at the Sapienza University of Rome, where she graduated with honours in 1896. Her thesis was published in 1897 in the journal Policlinico.
Until 1901, she worked with and researched children experiencing mental illnesses and disabilities. She was also an advocate for women’s rights and the education of mentally disabled children. As part of her work, she visited asylums in Rome.
In 1899, Montessori was appointed a councillor to the newly formed National League for the Protection of Retarded Children, and was invited to lecture on special methods of education at the teacher training school of the College of Rome.
In 1902, Montessori studied Philosophy at the University of Rome. She went on to publish a number of articles on scientific pedagogy and methods of education. Between 1915 and 1935, she travelled and lectured across Europe whilst developing Montessori methods of education.
The Montessori method allows children to develop at their own pace using their own initiative and natural abilities through practical play. Montessori education, which considers different periods of human development and different learning modes, are still installed in hundreds of schools across the world today.
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