Dr. Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori, the first woman medical doctor in Italy, was one of the great pioneers in the study of child development. After graduating from the Rome University Medical School in 1896, she worked with mentally deficient children, which reflected not only compassion, but also was the catalyst for her scientific study of children.

In 1908, Dr. Montessori began her innovative approach with a group of children in the slum area of San Lorenzo in Rome. Within a year, her accomplishments with these children earned world wide acclaim and became a landmark in the education of young children. She wrote twenty-five books on the various aspects of her theory and practice, and formulated her approach for elementary children in 1912.

The Montessori Method of education has proven itself for over 100 years. It has transcended time and cultures with schools world wide.