Montessori education was founded in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori. She was born in Italy on August 31st, 1870. At the age of 12 she and her family moved to Rome to give her better educational opportunities. At the age of 22, Maria began her medical degree. She became the first woman doctor in Italy in 1896. Dr Montessori was appointed as assistant doctor at the psychiatric clinic in University of Rome. She observed that after children finished their meals, they would throw food on the floor and play with them. These children had no toys to manipulate. She believed the only path for these children towards intelligence was through their hands, that is ‘learning by doing’. She believed in the ‘secret of childhood’ that all are born with potentials and the adult should help to nurture the potential.
The goal of the Montessori education is to support children in this development, with the aim to provide opportunities for each child to reach the child’s full potential.
"Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
