The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14
DR.. Montessori Discusses .Auto-E ducation'
HER PERSONALITY REFLECTS FUNDAMENTAL SYSTEM
Meditation Means Something
Growing" She Says, and
Tells Reason for Visiting
the United States.

ate. The children were between the
ages OF three and seven:
'arhe pedaeogic methods in their con-
crete application you know. The idea
was TO give a gradual series OF psychic
stimuli perfectly adapted TO the needs
Of the child. The environment sumu-
lated each pupil to his natural develop
ment. The children are free IN an tneir
manifestations and are treated with cor
dial affection. There was sowing OF a
seed In the consciousness OF the child,
then a perfect freedom OF opportunity In
an environment calm. warm with SEN
timent OF affection and peace.
Results? They were breath-taking.
The intellectual activity of these little
children was like a spring OF water gush-
ing out after a pile OF rocks mad been
removed. We did not train nor teach,
We merely allowed the child TO discover
itself. We saw them desptsing playthings
which gave them no chance to exercise
their powers of reason. That Is why
children break their toys; because they
are moved by an intellectual curiosity to
know what Is inside them.
Intellectual exercise is the most pleas
ant thing a child knows, IL he Is In good
health. The children of the Casa del
Bambini would save little objects that
they had acquired by themselves. They
would preserve unframed even the most
trivial scrap of paper, although free to
tear 1t up, so long as that scrap OF paper
helped them to exercise their thoughts.
But the most marvellous discovery was
the physical Improvement of these little
children. Now, We never served food in
the schools. The little ones. all Of whom
live in their own homes. have half an
hours recess for luncheon. which they
take at home. Not single child In the
school was given medicine: there was no
change OF diet, but in almost every case
a new vigor and health was shown by
blood supply. weight, and stature. They
looked like the children of wealthy par
ents living In the country and presented
a strong contrast to their brothers and
sisters at home.
Children Kept Busy.
This renewed vigor was due solely to
a complete satisfaction of psychic life.
These children were in school from Q to 5
eleven months in the year. All this time
they were continually busy.
This amazing discovery might have
been foreseen had we stopped to think
how our own physical health depends far
more on happiness and q peaceful con-
science than upon anything material as
bread!
DR.. Montessori is rather indefinite about
her visits to the American schools, how
ever. although II Is expected that she
will inspect our public schools as well
as the numerous Montesson schools as
far West as Chicago.
Yes, I open my next class for the
training of teachers at the end of Febru-
ary." added the doctress. 1T will well
come Americans as well as those from
all the other nations. Another picture"
Without irritation she rose and fol-
lowed a photographer into the next room,
arriving there without falling over the
five separate pieces of furniture which
tripped up the photographer as he led
the way.
The last glimpse OF this splendidly
poised woman showed her smiling out
Of the window still as II she seemed to
be seeing something invisible TO the rest
of US.