The Detroit times., 1913-05-15
AMERICAN WAYS
JUST AS GOOD
AS MONTESSORPS
No Need of Going to Rome for
Educational Ideas, Says
Miss Jenkins
CROWDED SCHOOLS ARE
OUR CHIEF DRAWBACK
Simpler Curriculum for Young
Children Demanded by Teach.
ers and Physicians

Clever magazine articles and
other publicity. in America, ac-
counts largely for the great interest
shown In the Nine. Montessori sys-
tenn OF teaching children. and II the
good work being done in America by
American educators could have the
same advertising. DR.. Montessori's
home In Rome would cease to be the
mecca OF American teachers" Miss
Elizabeth Jenkins, of the Chicago
Kindergarten institute. told an audi
ence OF teachers and parents. In Cen
trail High school auditorium. We'd
| nesday afternoon.
Miss Jenkins Is spending a few
days In Detroit, with relatives. on
her way to Chicago from attending
educational conventions In Washing
ton and Philadelphia. She studied
the Montessori method in Rome and
| Is widely known as an educator.
THE wave of Montessori enthusi-
asm has passed over the east and Is
now at its highest. probably, in the
middle west" said Miss Jenkins. "Its
greatest value lies In the fact that
1T set us thinking how to use that
which Is worth while In our own
system. and not so much in making
a new contribution to education.
Nine Montessori's book Is largely a
reinstatement of DR.. Pestalozzi's work,
which he put into practice 40 years
ago. DR.. John Dewey, Of Columbia
university. Is far ahead of Nine.
Montessori in the application of edu
cational principles.
Experts tell US that Nine. Mon
tessori's biology is faulty and her
psychology is that which obtained 80
years ago Montessori does not hold
with Froebel that children under six
years are in the playtime Of life and
what they learn should be largely
through the play medium. Monies
sori believes that children of two
and-a half and three years should be
taught the work OF life. She be-
lieves in individual teaching: a sim
pier curriculum or program for chill
dren; highly specialized sense-train-
teaching Of the three RS care Of
the physical child; teaching to chill
dren Of practical personal care and
home duties.
These principles are admirable
and our present-day education In
America Is based on them. But
their application Is largely a matter
of conditions. Montessori's methods
are adapted to Italian conditions, but
not wholly to American. She knows
nothing about educational methods
or facilities In any country but her
own. Do not think that mean to
belittle Nine. Montessori and the
splendid things she has accom-
plished. Far from 1t. I admire her
greatly. She is charming. quiet.
earnest and devoted woman, whose
friends are doing all the exploiting
which she is far too modest and re-
served ever to do for herself. But
know from long years Of experience
in teaching in various parts of the
world. that, given an equal basis
from which to start. American meth
DDS are better. Where Americans are
able 10 give individual teaching,
their work excells that of Monies
sori.
"Overcrowded classes and schools
are the greatest drawback to Ameri-
can teachers. One cannot teach the
three RS satisfactorily to children
SO young as the age advocated by
Montessori under such crowded con-
ditions. Character training, man
ners, right habits Of living, etc, re-
ceive only scant attention, for the
same reason. America needs a sim
pier school curriculum, especially
with young children. Parents and
doctors have sounded us a warning
in this respect.
"Montessori's sense-training Is
largely for sub-normal children and
not necessary for the average. nor
NAL, American child. A child who
is physically UNIT, poorly nourished.
or fatigued. is too frequently consid-
cred naughty and idle. because he
Is unable to apply himself to his
studies. In such things we are far
behind Montessori But even II our
teachers were equipped for this part
of school work. they would not have
time or room under existing condi-
lions. to put their knowledge into
practice.
Many OF our American kinder
gartens teach the personal care and
the home duties, especially among
the poorer classes of children. When
teachers, parents and doctors get
closer together In the training Of
the American child. results will be
vastly better. There Is nothing new
in Montessori's work except in the
m a oriaIa aha usoav