The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-02-25
Present Day Educational Life of Child
to be Reduced by Several
Years But Not
Spoiled.
PERFECT HER SYSTEM
Plan Will be introduced in America
and Italy at
the Same
Time.
CBy Henry Wood, Rome correspon
dent OF the United Press.]

lBy Henry WOOD, Rome correSpOn-
dent OF tho United Press.l
ROME, Reb. 25-Dr. Maria Non
tessori has just cut herself out the
task of shortening by several years
the present day educational life OF .
child The net result OF this Is to be
the giving to the future child the
years thus gained either for the pur-
suit OF advanced education or the get
ting OF that much earlier start In
what is to be its real occupation in
Life.
In attaining her new end, the fam
Gus teacher Of children doesn't plan
to give the child less education that
| 1t is getting now It is her intention
to give it all of that, and even more,
but in much less time than is now
required In short. DR.. Montessor1
has sat out to make real, as far as
she thinks it will ever be possible
to make it real, the long-sought after,
long-despared-of royal road to learn
ing"
Following her return from her re-
cent lecture tour in America DR..
Montessori has Just announced the
futurs plans for her work and
method. As a matter of fact, the firsu
definite steps in her new field have
already been perfected for SONS little
time. The announcement of them has
merely been withheld from ths pub
lie until Dr. Montessori could secure
the patents in the various countries
on her new material and provide for
thu full protection of her rights.
It is now the intention of the dot,
toressa to apply the principles of her
system of child instruction to the en-
tire field of education. Up to tho
present time, her efforts and systeuN
have been confined exclusively to
children from Q to s years Of age.
Convinced that the same unusual re-
suits which she obtained with them
can be obtained with school children
OF all ages, DR.. MontesSori plans to-
perfect her system and material unit.
1t provides for the instruction nos
only of all common and high schoos
branches but also for the desper un,-
versity studies
This work, as has been stated, has,
as matter of fact, already been per-
fected until 1t covers practically all
of tbs studies taught in the American
graded schools UP to the beginning
OF the high school curriculum. DIR.
Montessori's new material, which lis
soon to be given to the public, pro-
v1des for the teaching OF higher matn-
ematics up to and including geometry,
composition. geography and both the
ancient and modern languages.
Under the first part Of her system,
which Is now in general use In the
United States and elsewhere, the chill,
dren between two and six learn to-
read and write and do elementary
arithmetic. The work now included
in her second course, DR.. Montessor1
believes, can be thoroughly assimilat-
ed by the average child between the
ages of and II. AS this second.
course includes ali and even more
than is usually taught in the Amer,-
can graded schools previous to the
high school course, and which the
average American child does not fin
ish before 1t is from Is to 16. it
would mean saving OF 8 to 4 years
up to thu high school course.
The Introduction OF this second
course in the Montesorri system is to
be made simultaneously in the United
States and Italy. The Italian minis-
ter Of public instruction has Just plac-
ed at the disposition of DR.. Montesor.
ri number of the s'ginnasii" schools
at Rome which correspond with the
grammar school In England and the
school work In America between the
elementary and the high school
courses. DR. Montesorri - now en-
gagged in putting her system into full
working order in these schools and
these Will later serve as al
sort OF normal school for the
teachers whom the dottoressa will
prepare for the introduction In the
United States of this latest phase Of
her system.
Dr. Montesorris second normal