Montessori- elitist, cultish, or insightful teaching strategy?

[SGMCO]

There must be other
PUBLIC CHARTER MONTESSORI SCHOOLS in the US.
Our schools are paid for by our taxes and anyone is welcomed to attend
no matter what level of income you may have.
All parents do there part and Volunteer.

There are several of the Public Montessori schools here in COLORADO.

Our school is very small but grades range from K-12 with each having there
own section but older kids also getting to help and
interact with younger ones to make it a community feel to the school.

This school excepts all types of people no matter what your beliefs are
and we all get along nicely because of this.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think that no matter where you send your child it all depends on the teacher. Some "get it" and have found their calling in life while others well, need a career change. I do however know an adult that went to Montessori schools and she said she would never send her kids there. She said when she finally went to a public school it was very hard for her to adjust and follow rules. She said it is not how life works and it was poor preparation for it. I did take this into consideration when I chose and choose my children's schools. As far as child led learning, well it seems that almost everywhere that is how it is done. At least that is my experience. I do think that the school has to fit the child though regardless of what program they follow. JMHO.

ETA- I do know someone who mentioned that she wanted to send her DD there and I knwo she didn't know anything about the school at all. If they had a school named Prada she would have signed her kid up just because of the name so she could tell everyone her kid went to "Prada" even if it wasn't a good fit for her.

 

[Tiger926]

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[Mouse House Mama]

Sorry, if it looked like this, but it's not my intention to make anyone feel badly about what educational programs they have chosen for their children. Since I am a teacher, I am very passionate about education in general, but especially about the Montessori method because for my job, I have to teach a zillion different brains, and work with teachers on what educational strategies work best for those LD students, and in my experiences, the Montessori method is one of, if not the best method for learning. You may not agree with me, and that is ok, but I come from a place of direct experience in that I breathe it each and everyday both in my home, and in my vocation of teaching. I have only given broad generalizations about the Montessori method because we aren't conducting a workshop here - I will let those of you interested in this method to do that research on your own.

Since I am a Spec. Ed. teacher as well as a Montessori parent, I have lots of experience in teaching strategies, learning styles and educational philosophies, and thought that others would benefit from this knowledge. I love the Montessori method and have studied & researched its benefits from a psychoeducational standpoint, and that's what we've been discussing here. A lot of misconceptions about Montessori (eg. kids can't adjust to public school, too rigid, etc.) are in my opinion, not good Montessori schools. I have been in public school classrooms where the same stuff is happening, and that is because so much depends upon the environment that the school has set up. As I tell many people, any educational method though, is only as good as the educators who are running the program, and that is what people need to remember when choosing any educational program for their children.

Tiger

See this is my point. I don't believe that one program in particular is the end all be all. I also believe that no program can succeed if it is not run properly and by people who believe in it.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I was only discussing preschoolers, as Waldorf is very imaginative play-based for young kids and DS seems to learn best with that here at home, I don't know that I would choose it for his entire schooling.

But, as our area has neither it is a moot point for me.

My point was that I feel Waldorf can be cult like (in the right settings, its educational philosophy is based on a religion and they often don't disclose that to parents.) I think most preschool classes are harmless. After all it is hard to argue with wooden toys and things that are designed to increase cooperative play and imagination. I just wouldn't buy into a philosophy I don't agree with just so my kids get non commercial toys to play with.

I don't believe Montessori (the school in question) is the same way and people often confuse the 2.

 

[BibidiWannabe]

There must be other
PUBLIC CHARTER MONTESSORI SCHOOLS in the US.

Yes, they have them here in MA too. The one that is public closest to us is 30 min away and lots of kids that started at our private one, moved to that one as they got older and that was closer to them.

As I tell many people, any educational method though, is only as good as the educators who are running the program, and that is what people need to remember when choosing any educational program for their children.

Yes, you have the good and the bad in both private and public. Doesn't matter whether Montessori, public or other type of private schools. If your kid is thriving, learning and advancing then that is important. Kids learn in different ways and we found out the most effective for my kids was not the Montessori style for THEM. We still have friends who are still there and are doing well.

On another note, one of my friend's kid had a learning disorder that was hard to diagnose. He went to many psychologist, did many tests, and they couldn't figure out what the problem was. This was all self-paid by the family. If your kid has any type of learning disability, then you may be better off going to a public school where services are provided for by the state. At a private school, the money and every penny of it is needed for salaries, overhead, etc. so often the resources for a paid professional is very scarce. So there was no sped teacher or tutor available to help him. The family had to hire one themselves into the school to tutor the kid, (expensive) and top that with the $9k-$10k tuition, it gets costly! He too, went to public after 4th grade. I don't know how he is doing now since we lost contact with the family. So, from my personal observation and experience, Montessori worked well for kids that had no type of learning disability, issues, etc. which, ironically, is contrary to the history of Maria Montessori how she started out helping disadvantage, 'hard to educate' kids.

 

[emma'smom]

"I don't view Montessori cultist, but I do think Waldorf/Steiner really can be. All I know about it is from reading on the internet and some women's experiences who were on Mothering.com. It is based on what I personally think is a whacked out religion, but many schools don't really share the philosophy behind the education with all parents. As much as I enjoy wooden toys and fairy's I wouldn't send my kids to one. I have read about people who didn't know how to read in the 6th grade, the school was focusing on "other things." Now this is only what I know from reading on the internet. Other people might have a very different experience with it."

So, I thought this too. However, I have a college student (who I teach) who was educated in Waldorf from 1-8th grade and she has talked a lot about her experiences very positively. She seems really down to earth and well-rounded. I realize that she is a case study of one, but she seems to have gained a lot from the experience and, yes, they did not learn to read until third grade....but she reports that the scaffolding for reading was put in place all the way through. I also thought it was interesting that they keep the same primary teacher for all eight years (with specialized teachers to teach music, art, etc).

 

[DisneyPhD]

So, I thought this too. However, I have a college student (who I teach) who was educated in Waldorf from 1-8th grade and she has talked a lot about her experiences very positively. She seems really down to earth and well-rounded. I realize that she is a case study of one, but she seems to have gained a lot from the experience and, yes, they did not learn to read until third grade....but she reports that the scaffolding for reading was put in place all the way through. I also thought it was interesting that they keep the same primary teacher for all eight years (with specialized teachers to teach music, art, etc).

This sounds like one of those different experiences I mentioned. It does appear the education did work for her, but I still would not expose my kids too it because of the philosophy behind it. From what I remember reading it is really "out there".

 

[sahm1000]

Our daughter did Mont starting at age 3. When we first started looking at schools/preschools, I thought Mont was the strangest thing I had ever seen and felt it was definately not for us. I kept school shopping and found that many of the schools with the best reputations/test scores/subsequent schools were Mont. As I kept seeing it in different schools, I started to understand it better. I live in St. Louis and this town is down right unusual with all the private schools available in every price range. It's not only for wealthy people here. Mont was perfect for our daughter and it's easy to see a difference in her school because all the kids went through Mont perschool at the school before going to the lower (elementary) school. Having said that, my son did not go to Mont preschool. He would not have done as well with such a student driven philosophy but we found his more traditional preschool had some Mont qualities to it (mixed ages, etc). Our kids were in different preschools because they were different personalities and needed different things. Each worked very well for them. I would say follow your child and your instincts and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. It seems typical that when someone thinks badly about a school, it's through lack of understanding or intimidation. Do what's right for your child and the rest will sort itself out.

Good luck!

As a native of St. Louis I agree with you about it being weird about the schools there. Is there anyplace else where people will ask you where you graduated from and mean high school, not college? I live in Dallas, TX now and things are kind of strange here too - but in a hook 'em horns kind of way, not a private high school way!

 

[Tiger926]

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[mom2aredhead]

On another note, one of my friend's kid had a learning disorder that was hard to diagnose. If your kid has any type of learning disability, then you may be better off going to a public school where services are provided for by the state.

Funny you brought this up. I have a friend who enrolled her son in a Montessori program. He was adopted from Russia at age 1 and is almost 4 years old now. His actual medical history is pretty much an unknown at this point, but there are some concerns that are starting to surface. He is not even close to potty trained, is very small for his age, and will have to go for corrective eye surgery shortly. His pediatrician is starting to think he suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, but again, they are almost guessing at this point.

Fast forward to the phone call my friend gets AT WORK. Short version, her son is disruptive, the potty training is becoming an issue for the teachers, and bottom line, they have concerns about him continuing with the program. So she talks to the director, and of course they're sorry they called her at work and of course they'll work with him as much as possible, but perhaps she should consider a public program better equipped to deal with his needs.

I guess my point is that yes, Montessori is a good program for a lot of kids, but for some kids (special needs or not) it is not the best choice. If it works for you, great. But I don't believe it is necessarily a "be-all end-all you're doing your kids harm by not enrolling them" program. Unfortunately I've encountered many a parent that enrolled their kids there, and they feel the need to convice me that I made a huge life-altering mistake.
(My sister included, which is probably why I'm a little fired up about this - so sorry if I took it out on you Tiger - friends? )

If the traditional system failing to meet some families needs because it is "set-up to believe that one teaching method, learning style and curriculum is good for all students" then perhaps we can agree that the Montessori program may not meet all families needs because it is not the only "teaching method, learning style and curriculum good for all students" Does that make sense?

 

[Tiger926]

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[mom2aredhead]

I hope she can find some assistance too. I would venture to guess that the school is accredited and certified, but I really don't know for sure. It's been interesting hearing about some of the special ed differences between here and our friends up North. Like I said, a lot of the public schools are good (and a lot are not) but the private schools are a whole different beast. Their responsibilities are in part based on the amount of funding (if any) they receive from the state. If they are completely self sufficient, 100% tuition based and receive no outside funding, they can basically pick and choose the students they will have in their programs...so you can guess what happens to the kids that don't "fit the mold"

 

[Tiger926]

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[disneyjunkie]

There must be other
PUBLIC CHARTER MONTESSORI SCHOOLS in the US.
Our schools are paid for by our taxes and anyone is welcomed to attend
no matter what level of income you may have.
All parents do there part and Volunteer.

There are several of the Public Montessori schools here in COLORADO.

Our school is very small but grades range from K-12 with each having there
own section but older kids also getting to help and
interact with younger ones to make it a community feel to the school.

This school excepts all types of people no matter what your beliefs are
and we all get along nicely because of this.

There are two public Montessori schools in NC. One in Raleigh and one in Durham. The school in Raleigh is a magnet school. I'm not sure about the other one.

My son attended the one in Raleigh when he was in the first grade. I also worked there as an assistant for 3 years.( the county paid for teachers and assistants to go through the full training. ) While I really loved working there, the program was not a good fit for my son.

My son did much better in a traditional, structured program. My son would spend days working on puzzle maps (I still have a few of them ) and playing the stamp game. However, he avoided language like the plague. Since he was free to pick which subjects he wanted to work on, he stuck with his strengths.

I was also concerned that he was too dependent on the materials. He could use the bead frame or stamp game to figure out a math problem, but he couldn't do them abstractly. This worried me.

After one year I pulled him out and enrolled him a private school.

 

[erinmomof2]

Just wanted to add my opinion.

I'm the product of Montessori School, went there 7 years, than tried public school for 2 years. And after having seen both sides, I can say that I thought Montessori to be 100 xs better. Now that I have kids of my own I definately plan to send my daughter when she's old enough. For me the biggest difference was the level of teaching, when I entered public school all the kids my grade were learning things we had been taught years before. Another huge diffence was the way children acted. In my Montessori school there were consequences when a child would use a curse word or say something inappropriate, it just wasn't tolerated. And in public school, the kids were allowed to say whatever they wanted and there were hardly consequences for anything. In Montessori school it seemed like the kids all got along and it was a friendly enviornment, I never saw a fight in the 7 years I was there. At public school I saw numerous cliques, and fights. All in all, I am not a fan of public school, just from my own experiences. And, FYI, the Montessori School I went to was free if you lived in the school district, they just didn't have busses, so parents had to drive their children. Most of the Montessori Schools I've checked into are free after pre-school.

Anyways, I just wanted to add my thoughts about this, as I am a huge Montessori fan, from my own experiences.