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A Child Is Mysterious and Powerful

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A Child Is Mysterious and Powerful
"Within the child lies the fate of the future. Whoever wishes to confer some benefit on society must preserve him from deviation and observe his natural ways acting. A child is mysterious and powerful and contains within himself the secret of human nature."

Explain the above quote with reference to the Montessori philosophy.

The term 'Montessori Philosophy' originated from the name of Dr. Maria Montessori, one of the most influential pioneers in early childhood education. She advised an education which combines a philosophy with a practical approach based on the central idea of freedom for the child within a carefully planned and structured environment. To analyze the above quote, we will have to know what it is in essence the Montessori philosophy.

Maria Montessori was a soft hearted lady who happened to live through the two world wars. She was very much worried that in spite of the development of science and technology in the world, why men are very much unhappy, cruel and keep fighting with each other. She believed that this is because of the lack of fulfillment of human mind. So she deducted that as the adult comes into being through the child, it is important to consider the human being way down from the very childhood itself. Montessori has once opined that “It is the child who makes the man, and no man exists who was not made by the child he once was.” (http://www.dailymontessori.com/maria-montessori-quotes/)

Montessori, who became the first lady doctor in the history of her country, was appointed as assistant doctor at a psychiatric clinic. From this position she got chances to observe some mentally retarded children. Under her care and love many of these children improved even to a position that they could read and write. After that Maria Montessori got chance to look after some slum children for whom she made a home. This was called 'Casa Dei Bambini, means children's house. It was from here that Montessori philosophy actually



Bibliography: 1. Quotes by Montessori ( http://www.dailymontessori.com/maria-montessori-quotes/). 2. Educational Journal (http://educationaljournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/quote-christoph-schiebold). 3. Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, Kalakshethra Publications, 2006. 4. Modern Montessori International LTD. , Course Manual, Modern Montessori International LTD., 2007. 5. The Secret of Childhood, Maria Montessori, Orient Longman Private Limited, 2005.

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