Abstract/Notes: One of the major components of Dr. Montessori's plan for peace education is a curriculum that de-emphasizes nationalism. The "big picture" of the cultural curriculum encourages the perspective that people are citizens of Earth first, and only secondarily American, Japanese, Polish, or other nationalities. Through the fundamental needs material, children learn that all people on all continents throughout history had and have the same basic needs. In preindustrial times, geographic context, together with local natural resources, determined how different groups of people met their needs. And because this is still true, the Montessori geography curriculum is not limited to land and water forms and political borders, but necessarily extends to the people who inhabit other places. It teaches that other people are much like everyone else in terms of basic needs, but that they may meet those needs in very different ways; and children learn to respect those differences. Such a perspective is developed in Montessori settings even where little ethnic, religious, or social diversity exists, as long as a quality program is in place. Additionally, planetwide problems that Montessori may not have specifically anticipated, such as global warming, necessitate new attitudes and curricula that form and emphasize an "ecopsychological" awareness. This article examines the relevance of Montessori education to international schools: When properly integrated, Montessori complements and enhances many aspects of an international school, but when misapplied or partially applied, the obstacles that result can be quite difficult to overcome.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: Collaboration with Institute of International Education

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: IBHA, the International Big History Association, was organized in 2010 and "promotes the unified, interdisciplinary study and teaching of history of the Cosmos, Earth, Life, and Humanity." This is the vision that Montessori embraced long before the discoveries of modern science fleshed out the story of the evolving universe. "Big History" is a university curriculum that gives a comprehensive overview of everything from the birth of the universe to modern societies and visions of the future. In essence, it is a college-level version of Montessori's Cosmic Education. The IBHA held its first conference in August 2012 at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. A panel of Montessorians gave presentations at the conference to inform the assembled group of their own elementary school version of Big History.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori's worldview, shaped at least in part by her extensive travels and her experiences during World War II, compelled her to speak of peace and cooperation among nations. Though in today's world people can communicate instantly via fax, e-mail, and cell phones, and have the ability to circumnavigate the globe in a matter of days, they often find that understanding and empathy arise from daily contact with people whose customs and languages may be foreign, but whose daily struggles and hopes and dreams are not so different at all. In this article, the author describes her experiences that may attest to that very Montessori spirit. Living with two Ukrainian exchange students to train to be Montessori elementary teachers, the author was surprised by their limited vocabulary and difficulty conjugating verbs. However, they were able to discover similarities, by means of exchanging views and slowly their communication and cultural barriers began to diminish and opened the door to sharing cultures and experience.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

Language: English