What was Maria Montessori’s background before she became an educator, and how did it influence who she intended her program to benefit? Do modern-day Montessori programs maintain the same focus?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Maria Montessori started her career as the first woman to become a medical doctor in Italy. Her background in psychiatry and interest in children led her to spend much of her time working with children with intellectual disabilities, many of whom were able to pass regular school exams after her intervention. Montessori later took charge of a day nursery for impoverished children, where she developed the methods and techniques that would become central to the Montessori Method of education. Ironically, although Montessori’s original efforts were aimed at helping disadvantaged children, Montessori programs today are, for the most part, attended by children from more affluent homes.