SOURCE: “Montessori and Her Theories,” in Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-Fives, St. Martin's Press, 1987, pp. 1-35.

In the following essay, Gettman provides an overview of Montessori's theories and methods.

Introduction

Maria Montessori, who lived from 1870 to 1952, was a brilliant and original educator, scientist, healer, humanitarian and philosopher.

In Montessori's time, a woman in Italy was not given the same educational opportunities as a man. But even as a child, Maria won special opportunities because of her intellect. She attended an all-boys' technical school, and there expressed an ambition to pursue a career in engineering. When she was not given professional encouragement in this, she developed an interest in biology, and settled on becoming a doctor instead. At university, Maria, the only girl, was shunned by her colleagues, and she spent many months pent up in a room to study by herself—until, near the end of her...