WHO WAS MARIA MONTESSORI?

She lived from August 31, 1870 – May 6, 1952

Dr. Maria Montessori was the first woman in Italy to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine

She opened the first Montessori school—the Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House, on January 6, 1907 in a poor inner-city district of Rome. The students were under-served children, ages 3 – 7, and were left on their own while their parents went out to work. Many considered these children unteachable.

Using scientific observation and experience gained from her earlier work with young children, Maria designed learning materials and a classroom environment that fostered the children’s natural desire to learn and provided freedom for them to choose their own materials.

To the surprise of many, the children in Maria’s programs thrived, exhibiting concentration, attention, and spontaneous self-discipline. 

The “Montessori Method” began to attract the attention of prominent educators, journalists, and public figures. By 1910, Montessori schools could be found throughout Western Europe and were being established around the world, including in the United States where the first Montessori school opened in Tarrytown, NY, in 1911.

Today there are about 20,000 Montessori schools around the world, including 3,000 in the U.S., of which more than 560 are public schools.