“The child has a different relation to her environment from ours... the child absorbs it. The things she sees are not just remembered, they form part of her soul. She incarnates in herself all the world about her.”
-Maria Montessori
“We can no longer remain ignorant of our own nature and the world in which we live.”
-Maria Montessori
MHP's mission is to reveal the potential of early childhood - to make understanding and support of young children accessible to everyone. In doing so, may we find our way HOME - to the vibrancy of life itself and lasting peace on Earth.
“… the child has real vision, a bright little flame of enlightenment that he brings us as a gift.
On January 6, 1907, Dr. Maria Montessori opened her first “Children’s House” (Casa de Bambini) in a working-class quarter of Rome. Because it was the Feast of the Epiphany (when the Magi/Kings discovered and gave rich gifts to honor the Child Jesus), she proclaimed the Isaiah prophecy that begins:
“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!
Your light has come,
the glory of God shines upon you…”
Montessori went on to say that the significance of the Casa’s opening on this day was no accident, and she followed her full reading of the prophecy with these words,
“Perhaps this Children’s House can become a new Jerusalem which, if it is spread out among the abandoned people of the world, can bring a new light to education.” The newspapers criticized this as an exaggeration. Yet, Montessori says, “It was precisely this group of raw and unkempt children that became a famous center of interest, drawing visitors from all parts of the world …”
Montessori spent the next 45 years, up until the moment of her death in 1952, uncovering “the secret of childhood”. She learned, through patient listening and observation, what is most needed for the full development of each child’s unique gifts and potential. Her findings have been affirmed throughout the world, with children of every culture and circumstance. She became convinced that this approach is for every child: that the basic psychological and spiritual needs of the child are the same - whatever their circumstances. The Montessori Home Project is dedicated to sharing these insights, and making Maria Montessori’s vision of a “New Jerusalem” a reality in our time.
On the 100th anniversary of the founding of that first children’s house, visitors to the official website were asked to “‘Champion the Cause of all Children’ in all strata of society, of all races and ethnic backgrounds, within and beyond educational institutions.” We Montessorians were further asked to commit to social reform by working “throughout the world to assist the development of children by applying these principles and practices”. On September 6, 2006, I signed this pledge, and have been involved in a number of initiatives to advance it.
I am an AMI-trained Montessorian* and have completed extensive studies of the spirituality of young children via CGS**. I have applied these complementary understandings for the past 38 years in both school and church settings with 2-6 year olds. I believe that if a parent can afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars over three-four years so their child can attend a wonderful Montessori school, then they and their child are very, very blessed indeed. However, for most people, both the funds and a good school near home are impossible to find.
The hands-on, individualized, spiritually-oriented experience offered by the Montessori approach makes all the difference in the life of a growing human being and is more necessary now than ever! The Montessori Home Project is my way of making this approach available to more children and their parents.
Annie Spade
*Developed by Maria Montessori herself, AMI training is the most advanced and recognized training around the world.
**Developed by a Montessorian and a scripture scholar, the “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” utilizes the Christian spiritual tradition to meet the carefully-researched and universal spiritual gifts of children. These gifts may be nurtured through any tradition.
About Annie Spade
“By changing the center from the adult -
to the child and the child’s values
we should change the whole path of civilization.”
— Maria Montessori
Let’s meet up to explore the wonderful and powerful world of early childhood!
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