Today, Google presents a doodle commemorating the 142nd birthday of Maria Montessori (31 August 1870 - 6 May 1952), an Italian physician and humanitarian, but perhaps best known as an educator. Born in Chiaravalle, near Ancone, Marche, she had initially wished to become an engineer, but later changed her mind and studied medicine and psychiatry, a massive accomplishment for a woman at that time. In 1896 she became Italy's first female doctor when she graduated from Università La Sapienza di Roma.
Montessori was highly influential in her educational methodology of measuring and observing students, often those who were disabled, and encouraging a kinetic way of learning as a method of remembering. She believed that learning was to be based on activities of a child's choice, and that it was important that they were given the freedom to develop in whichever way they wanted, so that they enjoyed what they were doing. Montessori had worked in the psychiatric hospital of Santa Maria della Pietà, and was shocked that children were treated in the same manner as adults. She believed that as children all have different stages of development, and that educators must adapt their teaching style to each individual student's abilities and capabilities. Montessori regarded 'spontaneous discipline' in the children as vital to their learning.
The Italian Minister of Education in 1896 was impressed with a lecture given by Maria Montessori at the Educational Congress, in which she had spoken about educating the disabled. He offered her the position of director of the Scuola Ortofrenica, an institution which looked after and educated the mentally disabled. Her methods of teaching were so revolutionary and effective that when some of the children sat national school exams, they passed with above average results. Montessori was pleased with this and developing from the knowledge she had from teaching the disabled children, she opened Casa dei Bambini in 1907 for 'normal' children in San Lorenzo, one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Roma. It was the first Montessori school, and quickly gained success with her techniques of teaching, soon there were more, even spreading throughout the world.
However, with the rise of Fascism, Montessori had no place. Initially Mussolini supported her, but she and the new government soon came into conflict over her methods of education and her position on peace. In Mussolini's opinion, the Montessori system did not train good soldiers, and she spent years under political surveillance. She fled to Spain, and then with the Spanish Civil War, left to Holland. Maria Montessori's influence on the approach to education can be felt all over the world, her recognition of the importance of freedom and self-directed learning within a controlled and well-equipped environment has affected the teaching strategies of many teachers and educators.
The 1000 Lira note depicted Maria Montessori
