Happy Birthday Maria Montessori - August 31st

On Monday, August 31st, we will celebrate Dr. Maria Montessori’s 150th birthday. Dr. Montessori was born in Chiaravalle, Italy and became Italy’s first female physician. Social Justice and World Peace were her goals. She was first a scientist and medical doctor, not an educator. Dr. Montessori developed her method and pedagogy through her observation of children and her deep understanding of Human Development.  

Her work took her worldwide. These travels confirmed her observations that all people hold Universal Human Tendencies and that all humans develop and grow in the same way, regardless of where they are born. Ultimately encouraging and promoting the idea that, at our core, we are all the same. This supported her vision of World Peace. She felt very strongly that the place we need to begin to achieve this peace is the child. Children are capable of so much and are born without prejudice and hate. If we can support their development and encourage the inner peace that they arrive on the planet with, we have the possibility of changing the direction of the current world status. 

She opened her first Casa dei Bambini in 1907 in San Lorenzo, Italy. It is still an operational classroom today. Her work over 100 years ago is still very relevant and essential today. Words from her from long ago still ring true.  

“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war. Within the child lies the fate of the future.” MM Education and Peace

We are grateful for the contribution she has made to the Universe and that we can celebrate her life on Sunday with other Montessorians around the world.  

There is a global initiative called montessorieverywhere.org. Everyone is welcome to join in the day-long celebration with happenings from all over the world. We are proud that VIMSIA and all of our staff and families are part of this important work, not simply educating our young people and developing the potential each of our children have to make a great change in the world. Thank you, Dr. Montessori and Happy Birthday.