Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was born on the 31st August 1870, in Chiaravalle, Italy. From an early age she broke through the traditional barriers for women, attending a technical school with initial ambitions to be an engineer, to go on to choose a career in medicine. In 1896 Montessori became one of the first Italian women ever to obtain a medical degree. In her early career as a doctor, she was asked to represent Italy at the International Congress for women’s rights in Berlin, where she called for equal pay for women.

As a doctor her interests led her to join a research programme at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Rome, where she came to work with differently abled children. Through her in depth research, observation and analysis, Montessori developed a pedagogical approach which resulted in incredible outcomes for these children. At just 28 she addressed medical and pedagogical congresses, advocating for greater support for children with such difficulties and putting forward the controversial notion of education for social reform. While her work in this area received a great deal of acclaim, Maria Montessori discovered her techniques were applicable for use with all children, with extremely successful outcomes. She established the first of her “Casa dei Bambini” (children’s house) in Rome in 1907 and delivered her first training course in 1909. The success of the Montessori method spread throughout the world and Montessori travelled and lectured extensively on her unique, child centred approach, establishing schools and a loyal following of educators and researchers. 

The first “Casa dei Bambini” in Italy

The first Montessori environment was opened on the 6 January 1907 in San Lorenzo, Rome, Italy, by Maria Montessori. Through Montessori's observations and work with these children she discovered their astonishing, almost effortless ability to learn. Children taught themselves! This simple but profound truth formed the cornerstone of her life-long pursuit of educational reform.