Maria Montesorri

Maria Montessori was born in the village of Charaville, Italy on

August 31, 1870. She was born to a well respected family and was expected

to grow up to fulfill the traditional role of the Italian woman. When she

was three years old, the family moved to Rome where she received her

education. Upon graduating from high school, Montessori pursued an

advanced degree at the University of Rome and became the first woman

physician to graduate in Italy. Her interests drew her to work with

children, mainly those who were disadvantaged and had special needs.

Montessori became an anthropologist. Through her work at the

Orthophrenic Clinic, her decisions about working with children were made up

by observing them first. She was not trained as an educator, so her

decisions were based upon watching what children did and what they were

attracted to. In 1898, Dr. Montessori addressed the Congress for Teachers.

She spoke of an anthropological approach to childrenХs development. This

led to teacher training at The State Orthophrenic School. Dr. Montessori

lectured on the function of the school teacher, Whose task it was not to

judge the children. She felt it was the teachers role to help guide and

enlighten something that was asleep in the student. Mental work would not

exhaust