New Britain herald., 1915-04-23


 "Oh, yes, they are most deeply in- terested,' the dottoressa replied.
 They realize that war is the result of bad education They hope to pre- l vent war in the future by getting better education for their children"
 Do you think that the women's peace conference will accomplish any thing?"
 Perhaps it will, perhaps not. No one can tell what may come of it. But ] Illls we knoW-the determination of | women mat there shall be no more wars will accomplish something, i whether through this conference or not. myself believe that it is through the schools, through the education of I the men of tomorrow that the women 1 of today have the power to end war | Ihey Know now that the power is thelrs. 1t is only necessary for them to learn how to use it. Then Dr. Montessori described her system of education. which is very practical The equipment of her 1 schools includes aprons that the chill i dren learn to put on and button for themselves; in fact, "buttoning up' and facing, and tying knots and bows, | in short, learning to dress ones self. is , a very important Montessori course. l So is learning to wash ones self and | clean ones teeth, and set the table 1 and serve and clear away the dishes
 Do the children play as we'll as work?" I asked 1 "Oh, yes. In Italy We play Italian games and sing and dance. Tn Amer 1 ica many of the kindergarten games l are used'' Practicability of Her System. Does not the introduction of your 1 work into the schools add to the cost of public education?" I asked. "since the children come to school at three or four and the materials are expen- sixe?''
 The cost of the materials is slight" replied pr. Montessori "because each set may be used by many children at one time and will last for several years.
 Tt is true that children are ad- m1tted to the schools earlier but they need spend no more years in school than they do under the old system. The extra years in the baby school, 1T you choose to call it so will be saved in the grammar school.
 Then, tco, fewer teachers are need ed in the upper classes. We find that even the very little children will work alcne for hours after they nave been shoWn an activity that interests them, but the older children will work alone 1 for weeks. The teachers often leave their classes and go to others to as- slst. However, no child should be taught alone in his home. Children work best and most happily in groups They learn from each other.
 You see under my system there need be no more children in the pub- lie schools than there are now, but they will be younger so they will be able to begin their work in the community earlier. There may be no more teachers than at present, for the children under my system need only supervision, not constant direc- tion such as they require at present, and the equipment will cost no more, for it lasts a longer time.
 'This school is very beautifully equipped pr. Montessori interrupted herself to cxclaim. She was in the Free school in the model tenement at 520 East Seventy-seventh street, New York, conducted by her pupils
 "It is delightful to have so many things for the children, but it is not absolutely necessary.
 Recommends Schools in Apartment
 Houses.
 "I think it far better for these very little children to have the schools in apartment houses, as this one is. so that they are not exposed to bad :: weather. Then, too, it is easier for mothers who work to have the school so near at hand. Some of the mothers i are, of course, teachers in the schools, that is, some stay all day with the children. Others go out to thes work happy in the thought that their little ones are having expert care and training.''
 I thought of our American mothers who go out to their work the poor leaving their children in most mex pert hands and the professional wom- en paying nearly all they earn for the care Of their children.
 l. Mrs. Stoner urges that mothers shall teach their own children. 1 asked pr. Montessori's opinion of this theory.
 "Of course she said, mothers who / desire to spend all day with title chill t dren will fit themselves for the work. Teaching is a very specialart, as music or painting is. Not every wom- an has the necessary gifts. Those who have them should develop them, as a matter of course"
 pr. Montessori is strongly in favor of married women and mothers in the schools. sI
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 II Separate skirts of materials suit able to put right on now are to be found in great variety at Miss Ryan's, :