More than 4,000 public and private schools across the nation use the method. But with Axson set to close at the start of the 2002-03 school year, there are questions about where the program will be continued. Superintendent John Fryer said the school needs to be closed because of its old and dilapidated condition. School system staff acknowledge that with Montessori's approach differing from traditional schools, the program should be in its own school. Children lean in to watch the chemical reaction of vinegar during an egg-dyeing experiment at J. Allen Axson Elementary School, a Montessori elementary school in Duval County.
Teachers use hands-on teaching whenever possible.
Parents are fighting that location, saying it is too far. The parents, some of whom live at the Beaches, would prefer more central locations like Southside and Arlington. The school is now on the Northside. Many parents pulled their children out of private school to attend Axson. The strong support for the program is grounded in Montessori's ability to instill a love for learning while teaching independence and responsibility.