A lady of high society once visited Maria Montessori’s school and said to a little boy: “Is this the school where you do what you like?”
“No ma’am” replied the child. “We don’t do what we like, but we like what we do.”
“The Montessori schools where the kids do whatever they want” or “The Montessori schools that are too strict”. Neither is true…
Neither “educator dictator”, nor “child king”. In a Montessorian environment, the concept of freedom and limits are the basis for building self-discipline. A discipline that is not imposed from outside, but chosen by the child who applies it. The educator works with awareness and acceptance, having active listening and a deep understanding of the child’s nature as his tool.
When we talk about freedom, we mean the right to act, speak, think always in relation to the environment, the people around us and society in general. Freedom gives the child dignity, empowers him and allows him to unfold. To discover himself and lay a solid foundation for his personality.
When we talk about boundaries,we mean the conditions of peaceful and harmonious coexistence with ourselves, our environment and others (nature and society). And the principle of this peaceful coexistence is respect.
Through boundaries, children learn to control their body movements, make decisions based on their options, adapt to social expectations and treat others with respect.
In short, they make the roots of sociability and security. Without these the child is lost and burdened with an unbearable burden of “I am king and I do as I please.” These boundaries change as children grow. As much freedom is given as each child can handle. It takes time and practice.
When we talk about discipline,we mean the one that comes from within us, the ability to define our actions, our body, our speech towards the achievement of a goal. Self-discipline takes time to master and wisdom to appreciate, it takes experience and practice.
In a Montessori environment children have the freedom :
- Choose activity of choice
- To communicate with each other
- To work continuously without interruption
- To move, to express themselves
- To take care of themselves
- To discover, to explore
- To make mistakes
The limits that are entered in order to have freedom:
- Respect for the material they use
- Respect for the right of others to concentrate on what they are doing
- Select activity or material if they have been presented with it.
- Arranging the material after it has been used so that it is available for others.