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montessori_lori
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 10:08am | IP Logged
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Ladies, some of you may have seen the recent article by Slate.com editor Emily Bazelon. Called Montessori Education: What the hell is it?, it received a lot of attention in the mainstream media. This surprised me, because as you know, it's hard for Montessori to make headlines.
Anyway, in spite of the fact that her son attends a Montessori school, she was fairly critical (in a sarcastic way) of the Montessori method - she used the word "cult" more than once. I was disappointed to see this kind of negative portrayal.
So, together with a friend of mine, I set out to put together a rebuttal of her article explaining just what Montessori is and why it's important. It turned out better than I ever dreamed, and I posted it to my blog today:
Why Our World Needs Montessori
I hope you guys will take a look, and if you like it, please blog about it, email it, and spread it around! I think it's really important to get accurate info out there about Montessori.
Thanks so much!
Lori
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Meredith
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 11:09am | IP Logged
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Thank you Lori for sharing this with us here, everyone will surely benefit from your wonderful article as well as reading her interesting *take* on Montessori. So appreciate your linking it here!!
Blessings!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 11:24am | IP Logged
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montessori_lori wrote:
I was disappointed to see this kind of negative portrayal.
Lori |
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Lori,
Thank you for making us aware of this. I just read it.
I personally felt "outside the loop" when my cousins were sending their children to the local Montessori school.
Then I read an article about it in "The Catholic Home Educator" by Julia Fogassy: "Montessori Isn't Just for the Classroom".
It was the Advent 1997 issue and chocked full of homeeducating articles:
* What is an Atrium? by Margaret Dornay
* The Montessori Method: Can it be applied to homeschooling? by Ann Malone
* Montessori and the Popes by E.M. Standing
Thus began my search for knowledge and my fascination with MOntessori. Instead of feeling inferior to my cousins, I feel well-educated and enabled.
That a senator hasn't thought to educate herself more on the Montessori method but let herself view it from the outskirts as a "cult" reminds me that our education is indeed what we make of it.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Eleanor
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 11:53am | IP Logged
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Many people on the "outside" do seem to feel threatened by the distinctiveness of Montessori. It's understandable for people to be suspicious of things that seem weird and arbitrary, especially in the field of education (where a lot of kooky ideas have sprung up over the years). Still, one would hope that a journalist would try to be more objective and open-minded.
I recently came across an extreme fundamentalist Protestant web site that had an absolutely rabid anti-Montessori page, which basically said that the method was a set of thinly disguised satanic exercises.  Among other "evidence," they pointed out that "the floor is marked with a red ellipse, which the children are specifically instructed not to touch except during certain classroom rituals." <Gasp!> The horror!
I wonder what they'd have to say about our house?
"The bathroom contains an ornately decorated urn filled with bristled implements, which the children are specifically instructed not to touch except during certain family hygiene rituals." 
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 12:05pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for your feedback, guys! Sometimes it seems like the misinformation about Montessori is greater than the information. Little by little, we can change that!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
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Eleanor wrote:
"The bathroom contains an ornately decorated urn filled with bristled implements, which the children are specifically instructed not to touch except during certain family hygiene rituals." |
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Good thing I wasn't drinking coffee at the time I read that!
I'll be sure to get something up on my blog about your article, Lori. Thanks for the heads-up!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
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Ok, I read the slate article and Lori's.
I actually found the Slate article to be a story of appreciation despite her initial reservations. The message I took away from it was that she feels Montessori education has some quirky outside appearances, but when examined closely is quite sound.
The only part I had a beef with was the part where she writes:
In many ways, Montessori education remains a cult: No one outside the fold (and lots of families inside it) really knows what exactly it is.
Which is, of course, rubbish and just an excuse for not doing more research and educating herself. As we all know here, the information is out there if we take the time to seek it.
Lori, your article is lovely. Convinced me even more that this method is the right thing for my daughter. This part, in particular, resonated with me:
Oftentimes, parents are shocked to discover that their children become 'functional' the moment they are given something interesting, useful and engrossing to do. Meaningless, adrenaline-filled boredom is replaced with purposeful activity and the child is suddenly focused and able to concentrate. Montessori materials provide that 'something-to-do' that children so yearn for in their quest to become helpful, recognized, active members of the human family.
I love it!
Keep up the good "work" ladies!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 2:14pm | IP Logged
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Here is my response.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 2:23pm | IP Logged
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Lori, Thanks for another insightful and well-written article. Ignorance is always out there, and your words go far in combating these misplaced ideas.
You've done so much here on our little forum to help make this method of education accessible, reasonable, and enjoyable for so many of us. I am grateful for your voice here.
I'll put something up on my blog with a link to your article.
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Jen Mackintosh
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marianne
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for a great article. It cleared up some ideas for me, too! I linked it at my blog and tried to add a little feeble commentary.
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Meredith
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
Eleanor wrote:
"The bathroom contains an ornately decorated urn filled with bristled implements, which the children are specifically instructed not to touch except during certain family hygiene rituals." |
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Good thing I wasn't drinking coffee at the time I read that! |
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Me too!! Eleanor, you are a hoot!!
I love all the points you have made and Theresa your article is excellent! Linking these to my blog as well, it's so nice we can all learn so much from each other, and LAUGH about it too 
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
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nicole marie
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for sharing! The article confirmed so many things I was thinking about and also answered a few questions for me. I love the website as well...great resource! Thank you!
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God Bless!
Wife to DH and Mommy to one DD  (07/28/06) and one DS  (11/26/08)!
Little Things
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: July 12 2007 at 8:42pm | IP Logged
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I'm so glad the article was helpful to you, Nicole! Your new blog is beautiful. It's addicting, isn't it? =)
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AndreaG
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| Posted: July 13 2007 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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I really enjoyed your article, Lori! I put it on my blog, I hope my kid's grandparents will read it and get a better understanding and appreciation of montessori education.
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Important Article Defending Montessori
