Myth:
Montessori is just for preschool children.
Fact: While the majority of Montessori
schools around the world are preschools, there
are an increasing number of primary schools opening.
There are 23 preschools and 5 Montessori primary
schools in Victoria. As yet, there are no Montessori
high schools in Victoria. There are Montessori
high schools in Perth and Brisbane.
Myth: Montessori is just for special learners-the
gifted or the learning-disabled.
Fact: The methods used in Montessori schools
are highly effective with both learning-disabled
and gifted learners; the reason for their effectiveness,
however, is that the learning environments have
been designed to ensure success for all children.
Myth: Montessori schools are religious.
Fact: There are many private Montessori
schools that do have a religious orientation because
it is such a common practice for non-government
schools to have religious support. But the Montessori
philosophy itself is not religiously oriented
and finds itself quite at home in public settings
where religious instruction is inappropriate.
None of the Victorian Montessori schools have
a religious orientation.
Myth: Montessori is only for the rich.
Fact: This misconception is due to the fact
that tuition fees in some Montessori schools are
quite high. The Gisborne Montessori School has
the lowest fee structure of all Montessori schools
in Victoria. It is the School Board's philosophy
to maintain the tuition at the lowest possible
level. This means that a high level of parent
input is a requirement to ensure that the school
is maintained and developed to an appropriate
standard.
Myth: Children in Montessori classrooms are
relatively unsupervised and can "do whatever
they want."
Fact: Montessori is based on the principle
of free choice of purposeful activity within a
structured learning environment. If the child
is being destructive or is using materials in
an unproductive way, the teacher will intervene
and gently re-direct the child either to more
appropriate materials or to a more appropriate
use of the material. In Cycle 2 and 3 (covering
ages 6 to 12), students have an individual learning
plan that ensures each student's learning is consistent
with the Victorian Curriculum set by the Education
Department.
Myth: Montessori is a cult.
Fact: Montessori is part of the educational
mainstream, as evidenced by growing numbers of
graduate-level programs in Montessori education
(such as those at Cleveland State University and
New York University) and the increasing popularity
of Montessori in the public schools.
Myth: Montessori classrooms are too structured.
Fact: Although the teacher is careful to make
clear the specific purpose of each material and
to present activities in a clear, step-by-step
order, the child is free to choose from a vast
array of activities and to discover new possibilities.
Myth: Montessori is against fantasy; therefore,
it stifles creativity.
Fact: The fact is that the freedom of the
prepared environment encourages creative approaches
to problem-solving. And while teacher-directed
fantasy is discouraged, imaginative play initiated
by the child is viewed as healthy and purposeful.
In addition, art and music activities are integral
parts of the Montessori classroom.
Myth: Montessori classrooms push children too
far too fast.
Fact: Central to the Montessori philosophy
is the idea of allowing each child to develop
at his or her own, individual pace. The "miracle"
stories of Montessori children far ahead of traditional
expectations for their age level reflect not artificial
acceleration but the possibilities open when children
are allowed to learn at their own pace in a scientifically
prepared environment.
Myth: Montessori is out of date.
Fact: While appropriate changes have been
made to the original Montessori curriculum (including
the introduction of computers and modifications
to the Practical Life exercises to keep them culturally
relevant), the basic pedagogy has not changed
significantly since Dr. Montessori's lifetime.
However, contemporary research and evaluation
seem to be confirming Montessori's insights.
Myth: Montessori is a hippie school.
Fact: Parents from an amazing array of backgrounds
and occupations send their children to Montessori.
This provides fantastic learning opportunities
for the students. Parent occupations are wide
and varied - ranging from educators, doctors,
small business owners, business and IT professionals,
trades persons and so on. While there are no paisley
pants or dreadlocks being worn by any parent (or
child) at the moment, all families willing to
commit to their child's education are welcome!
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