Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
Education for Children by the Momtessori System

en- an old-fashioned residence in
Georgetown, which neither inside
nor outside reminds one of a
q schoolhouse, an educational feat of
an intensely new-fashioned nature is
being accomplished.
A Montessori primary school with all
of the unique school materials that the
mind Of the great Italian educator con-
ceived is being maintained there, and it
is yielding splendid results. This sea-
son, when school days are nearly over
for the year, is the best time for in
vestigating the merits of an educa-
tional system. The Montesorri method
needs no Introduction to educators.
Even the layman has heard how it
works" what development it is ca
pable of giving to the little child.
However true this may be by hearsay,
it is none the less gratifying to be able
to verify it here in Washington. A trip
to the school will prove more than in
teresting to any one, whether he be
teacher. parent or interested onlooker
keeping abreast with human progress.
The achievements of Nine. Montes-
sorri. which have startled the educa-
tional world since they were first ex-
plotted, undeniably point the way to
completely effective means of training
little children in the future. Like every
new variation of an old theme, how
ever, it has had a struggle before it
attained widespread adoption. The pri-
mary school in Georgetown is, for in
fnir
Alexander Graham Bell gives the
quaint old residence where it is housed
and the children pay fair tuition fee,
but each year a deficit has to be made
up by enthusiastic parents and pa
irons.
But the method is agreed by all to he
most eff1cacious solution OF the
problem of child training, and as a pio-
neer study this primary school In par
ticular is an encouragement.
Miss Anne E. George. in charge OF
the school, who is personal friend OF
Mime. Montessorri and the translator of
her Italian pedagogical works into
English, was very happy to show the
work of the school. She went TO great
trouble to demonstrate with human
material each application OF the meth
cd. A little girl or boy, as the case
may be, assisted her in these demon
strations," showing at the same time
an agility of mental process In the
three RS and kindred subjects:
To attempt to go into the intricacles
of the method, as Miss George puts it.
would be out of the question. yet Ger
tain high lights stand out SO strongly
that they cannot be ignored In a
sketch of it
The dainty furnishings. perfect
antithesis to the old-fashioned school
fixings, provide novelty LOT tne
grown-up visitor. 1t does not seem seen.
like school. Each child has a little
nd
children occupy a room, so that the
sense of. home surroundings is always
preseat. Unsight1y black are
scarce. a single square blackboard Ior
Fresh curtains and hangings Win
good pictures further suggest the home
spirit In the washroom each child
has an individual towel. with dainty
ton. In this setting, where the chll-
dren move about with perfect freedom.
unless a class lesson is being given,
the marvels take place, and they seem
maryeIs indeed. though the so-caileo
precocity is never encouraged as
quality.
The foundation of the system. as has
been told in print many times IS the
development of the child by the care
full training of the senses as basis lot
future mental processes. Poise, sell
control, accuracy and initiative, to say
nothing OF real knoWleuse, are Ine o.
tainments sought.
To give all the simple and effective
PAGES through which the children are
put to train their five senses would pc
to rewrite one OF Nine. Montessorl
books. The pupils graduate from sim.
pie exercises which test the sense OF
touch to difficult ones that train the
sense of hearing. With these eAer
fra
the development of the senses valuable
at the ages of primary instruction.
The intricate and ofttimes battling SUP,
ject of arithmetic is taught by the ana
of the sense of sight. The Montessorl-
taught child is able to visualize every
abstract process which he follows.
thereby facilitating his understanding
Of mathematical problems rathex tnan