The Washington times., 1913-12-04
INSTRUCTORS BOW
= TO Or. MONTESSOR|
Educators Call at Home of DR..
! Bell to Pay Homage to Kin
dergarten Leader.

Accompanied by Miss Anne E. George,
director Of the Montessori work in
America DR.. Maria Montessori arrived
N Washington early this morning, and
was driven at once to the home Of DR..
and Mrs. Alexander Graham Bell. 1881
Connecticut avenue, where she will be
sn honored guest during the few days
she is TO remain in Washington.
DR.. Montessori. who is universally
recognized as the most important fac
tor in the improvement of educational
methods, and the greatest woman edu-
Gator in history. is the originator % the
famous Montessori method. for the in
PRODUCTION OF which societies are being
formed throughout the world.
In this country the Montessori Educa-
tioaal Association of America, under
solicitation the present visit is being
made, was formed a year or more ago,
with DR.. Alexander Graham Bell as
president. The board of directors also
includes such well-known educators as
Philander p. ClaXton. United States
commissioner of Education: William NJ.
Davidson, superintendent of Washing
ten public schools; Miss Margaret
Woodrow Wilson, and Gilbert H. Gros-
ve1or, of the National Geographic Mag
azine.
Speed Up Clearance.
Owing to delay in the landing of the
steamship Cincinnati, on which she ar
rived in New York yesterday, DR.. Mon
tessori failed to reach this city last
night Miss George had been sent to
the metropolis to meet her, and, with
the assistance OF members of the so
ciety in New York. the customs clear
ance was expedited
The Bell residence this morning vas
the Mecca for educational enthusiasts.
one of the first 10 call being DR.. Clax-
ton. who was compelled to leave the
city later on business. He will return
Saturday to participate in the public
reception at the Masonic Temple Audi
torfum Saturday evening, following
lecture to be delivered by DR.. Mon
tessori. Miss Margaret Woodrow VII
son was another early caller. she having
Cancelled an important engagement in
New York in order to spend her entire
time in honoring the distinguished eju-
Gators stay here.
President Wilson received Dr. Mon
tessori this afternoon when she was ac-
companied by a delegation Of prominent
men and women. Tomorrow Will be
given over perceptions throughout the
city, including with one at DR.. Bells
home in the evening.
The engagement with the President
was arranged despite the fact thar
President Wilson had Cancelled all other
engagements on account of his cold. A
large part of the day was occupied in a
tour of Washington in White House
automobile, with Miss Margaret Wilson
as the host and guide. Indeed. Miss
Wilson has undertaken TO devote her
entire time to the famous Italian eiu-
Gator during her stay in Washington.
Saturday evening Madam Montessori
will be introduced by DR.. Bell. and at
the public reception that follows the
lecture, the reception committee will
include Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson.
Mrs Franklin Lane, DR.. Claxton, Miss
Edith c. Westcott, principal of the
Western High School and s. S Nc
Clure, who first made known to America
the merits of the Montessori methods.
Contemplates Freedom.
The Montessori method of education
contemplates absolute freedom of the
child. in so far as that freedom does
not interfere with the rights of others.
BY suggestion. the interest Of the child
is aroused in the subject to be taught,
and all arbitrary coercion is prohibit
ed. Originally 1t was applied to the de-
ficent children, but enlarg1ng its scope
the results attained with normal child
rem are found to be even more wonder
ful.
lhS ~ x NAiS tShSAIi
has been perfected. but there still re-
mains much to be done in its APPLICATION
to the higher graded schools, and to
all branches of higher education. Mad
anne Montessori's conclusions have been
reached through extended scientific re-
search, and the methods have stood the
test of years of actual experimentation
with children.
Taught Deficients.
Following her graduation with honors
from the University of Rome, Madame
Montessori took up the work of teach
ing deficient children. under the dlrec-
ton of Giuseppe Sergi, an official OF the
Roman schools. IL was while thus en-
gagged that she began to see the neces-
sity of a method of education on purely
scientific lines. About eight years ago.
public announcement was first made Of
her discoveries, and since then the
principle has reyolutioniZed educational
methods throughout the world
AS the guest in this country of the
Montessori Educational Society of
America, following her stay in this city.
DR. Montessori will make a tour of the
country She is scheduled to speak IN
New York CITY Monday, and in Phila
de3plaa. December .; Brooklyn. II;
Boston. 10: Pittsburgh. Il: Chicago, 70,
and possibly Cleveland, st. Louis, Kan
sas City. and Detroit later. She will
return 10 Rome about the first of the
new year.