How does Montessori’s understanding of the child influence her view of education?
Since Montessori schools are based upon the principle that “…the child, not the teacher, is the construction of man , and so society…,” it is felt that the, “human teacher can only help the great work that is being done…” “Education is not what the teacher gives: education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences upon the environment”. Therefore, the teacher’s role is to provide the materials and the prepared environment which will aid development and to be ready to respond when help is needed.
