Abstract/Notes: Addressing the many complex issues associated with culture, race, and diversity is tough under any circumstances. But such issues become even more complex in school settings where large numbers of students speak different languages and reflect diverse ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses. In this article, the author describes how the faculty members and the administrators at Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS) in Indiana found a balance between quality education and student diversity. FWCS offers a district-wide school choice program that features a number of different educational offerings. Interestingly, as the district's student population (nearly 32,000) has become increasingly diverse--it now has about 80 languages/dialects represented by students--its Montessori magnet program has grown more successful. The author also relates that FWCS' Montessori magnet program is superbly suited to prepare students to flourish in culturally and racially diverse environments. As such, it is highly in demand among parents.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: In this article, the author states that, for over 45 years, she has explored the issues of leadership and change, and, along the way, she has examined how diversity fits in with these ideas. She states that she found all three of these concepts embodied in the person of John McDermott, a leader in the American Montessori movement in the United States. McDermott helped establish the framework for putting Montessori education into an American cultural context. His message was always the need for public education, the necessity of embracing African-Americans and the poor in Montessori schools, and the damage to cities caused by white flight. McDermott held to his view that the quality of public education was key to the future of the republic. He decried the economic and social disparity between poor urban and inner-city schools and those of the affluent middle class, along with the ever-widening gap between the poor and the affluent and between blacks, Latinos, and whites. McDermott continued to stress the need to make Montessori education relevant to present problems, although he did not view Montessori education as a single solution to the problems in American education. He challenged the American Montessori Society to examine the ways in which growth and change occur in America.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: A escola é um local de conexão do ser humano com o que o rodeia e, por isso é mais do que um espaço para educar. É o abrigo que acolhe e promove um processo educativo e de crescimento. A relação entre arquitetura e pedagogia, entende-se na medida em que o desenho do espaço é um instrumento pedagógico e, essa conexão entre as duas áreas é intensifcada pelas transformações na sociedade, que por sua vez têm infuenciado o desenho do espaço de ensino. A partir do século XIX e XX a introdução de novos métodos de ensino refetiu-se numa nova forma de olhar para as crianças e numa crescente preocupação com a pedagogia. Estes modelos inovadores distanciam-se da rigidez dos modelos tradicionais e, são ainda hoje pouco reconhecidos. As escolas Montessori representam essa nova forma de olhar para a educação e respondem às questões pedagógicas desenvolvidas por Maria Montessori, nas quais as crianças são seres independentes e são o centro de todo o processo educativo. Carateriza-se por ser uma pedagogia, que tal como o espaço a ela destinado, é complexa e pensada ao detalhe para satisfazer as necessidades de seres autónomos. Ao mesmo tempo, a principal caraterística da nova educação é a liberdade, que por sua vez se vê refetida no espaço arquitetónico, em espacialidades fexíveis e que permitem maior variedade de ocupação. Além disso, a pedagogia Montessori requer um ambiente de ensino estimulante à aprendizagem, que confere à criança a independência necessária na sociedade atual. Com isto, a presente Dissertação de Mestrado, "A casa das Crianças: Três Modelos de Espaços Escolares Montessori", pretende perceber de que forma a arquitetura responde ao próprio método Montessori, através de vários casos de estudo como por exemplo: A Casa das Crianças Viena (1922) de Franz Schuster, a Escola Montessori de Delft (1960/66) de Herman Hertzberguer e o Fuji Kindergarten projetado pelos Tezuka Architects (2007). A análise destes casos em detalhe, permitiu entender o espaço escolar Montessori através de temas comuns como: a relação ente a Escola e Cidade, o espaço de distribuição da escola, a sala Montessori e todos os espaços que a compõe, e o espaço exterior. / School is a connection place between humans and their surroundings, it is more than a place to teach. It is the shelter that welcomes and promotes both an educational and a growth process. The relation between architecture and pedagogy is understood as a pedagogical instrument and this relation is intensifed by changes in society, which in turn have infuenced the design of the teaching space. From the 19th and 20th century, the introduction of new teaching methods resulted in new ways of looking at children and in a growing concern with pedagogy. This happened as a reflection of introducing new teaching methods. These innovative models block the rigidity of traditional models and nowadays, they're not so recognized. Montessori schools represent this new way of looking at education created by Maria Montessori, where children are independent beings and are the center of the educational process. This pedagogy is known by being complex and designed to detail to satisfy the need of autonomous beings. Just like the space for them. At the same time, the main characteristic of the new education is freedom, that is refected in the architectural space too, with fexible spaces that allow childrens appropriation. Montessori Pedagogy requires a teaching environment that encourages learning, giving the child the independence needed in today's society. So, this master's thesis, Children's Space: Three Models of Montessori Schools, shows how architecture to the Montesssori Method principles, throught various study cases like: Children's House in Viena (1922) by Franz Schuster, a primary Montessori School in Delft (1960/66) by Herman Hertzberguer and the Fuji Kindergarten designed by Tezuka Architects (2007). The study of these and more cases, revealed the Montessori Spaces through themes like: The School and the City, The School distribution, The Montessory Classroom and The Outdoor Space.

Language: Portuguese

Published: Porto, Portugal, 2021

Language: English

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: Public Montessori elementary schools have two challenges: They strive to achieve a child-centered Montessori environment and must also address the demands of state and federal requirements developed for more traditional educational settings. This study analyzes how schools were operating on both fronts. On the one hand, the study measured the degree to which schools reported they were living up to the ideals of establishing truly Montessori environments within public schools (based on characteristics identified by the American Montessori Society as essential for the success of Montessori schools in the public sector). On the other hand, the study also gauged public Montessori elementary school leaders' perceptions of the greatest challenges facing their schools. This study incorporates public Montessori elementary school leaders' descriptions of their schools on several dimensions. First, participants provided basic school characteristics, such as admission criteria, enrollment information, and enrollment trends. They followed with Montessori practices and attitudes, outlining teacher background and classroom structure. Next, testing practices and attitudes toward standardized testing were described. Finally, they enumerated the greatest challenges facing their schools. (Contains 5 tables and 3 figures.)

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040