DR. MONTESSORI.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 39, 10 December 1920, Page 9

DR. MONTESSORI.

During Dr Montessori's recent visit to London, rhis wTonderful Italian woman doctor with the smile of a child and tlie authoritative manner of a woman of the world, won over -the great majority of English teachers to see eye to eye with her ahout children, (sa-ys the "Womau's Magaz. ine"). The great discovery made by lier is this: that a norma! cin-a, if left to itself, with plenty to occupy itself with, edu.eates itself much faster and more thorouglily than the he-st kindergarten has ever eucceeded in doing. The child goes at its own pace, and is freed from strain. Children love work, and in the Montessori atmosphere they quickly become nappy and good. This is partly because there are not too many grown-up people ahout, fussing them and gettin^ on their nerves. The Montessori atmosphere is fairyland pure and siinp!e, but it is difficult to achieve it, for teachers are wedded to their own old >\yays. There is a strong movement at presenlb towards the same kind of "auto-cducation" for big children in many of the more up-to-date preparatory and public schools.