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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > November > 30 > Entry
The future of Montessori
I had very limited space in today’s paper to write about what parents told the school board Tuesday at an open forum at which they were invited to air any concerns they might have.
Instead. the board made news right away by announcing an about-face on the future of Horace Mann Elementary School. The announcement that the school would be rebuilt despite soil problems dominated the story that got in the paper.
What was left out was an equally important question — will Horace Mann still be a Montessori school? That question, and the future of Montessori instruction in the city school district, is up in the air.
A committee of administrators along with parents and teachers from the district’s three Montessori schools is expected to report recommendations to the board by the end of December.
Dayton is one of the few (in our area, I think the only) public school systems offering Montessori instruction. Currently, three schools — Horace Mann, Franklin and Jefferson elementary schools — are Montessori-themed, with curriculum based on the theories of Maria Montessori, a groundbreaking Italian doctor in the early 20th century.
Montessori believed education should start very young and that children learned best through hands-on experiences. Dayton’s Montessori schools accept children as young as age three. They are grouped in mutli-age classrooms (age three to six, age six to nine, etc.).
I have a unique perspective on this, because my daughter attended one of these schools beginning at age 3. First of all, I have to admit her experience made me a fan of Montessori instruction. It may not be a great fit for every child, but my daughter flourished academically in the program. And as a parent, I found this program a tremendous benefit. My friends in the suburbs were shelling out $6,000 to $7,000 a year for Montessori pre-school. In Dayton, I was getting it FOR FREE through my public school system.
In fact, parent affection for the program at Franklin made me wonder why more public school systems don’t offer Montessori pre-school/elementary schools? If it benefits kids’ learning and parents are willing to shell out thousands of dollars for it, doesn’t it seem sensible that suburban school districts should respond to that demand with their own Montessori offerings?
But even in Dayton, where the programs are popular and effective (Franklin and Horace Mann are always among the city’s best performing schools on state tests), the district is considering a more limited Montessori presence in the future.
One of the big problems is teacher training. Montessori certification is a fairly rigorous and time consuming program and the nearest college specializing in it is Xavier University in Cincinnati. Dayton is always struggling with a short supply of Montessori-trained teachers and principals for the three schools.
The board also is unsure how much demand there is for Montessori programs. While many of the parents in the current Montessori schools are fervent supporters, is there really demand for three schools? Or are parents choosing these schools because they are close to their homes as often as because they are Montessori-themed?
Additionally, Montessori magnets, open to any student in the city, complicate the board’s plan for all neighborhood schools in the near future. Franklin, for instance, largely serves kids in its neighborhood. Should it be a neighborhood school while the Montessori theme is switched to a more remote site?
One idea is to have one large Montessori school to replace three smaller ones. the Montessori trained staff could be consolidated and Montessori-minded families could have a one-stop shop.
I’d love to hear what Montessori fans, or parents at the Dayton Montessori schools, think about the decisions facing the school board.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: My Favorite Posts, Urban School Issues
Comments
By Nancy
December 1, 2005 4:18 PM | Link to this
Many magnet schools are chosen by parents because they are closer to home or to a sitter. The theme is irrelevant for them, especially for primary ages. This has been true for years. I think the montesori program should not be forgotten. Too many times a program is quietly brushed away, and the good results are ignored because someone doesn’t think it’s needed anymore.By Mary
November 30, 2005 4:36 PM | Link to this
Years ago because of a cross country move, my now 26 year old daughter went from Montessori kindergarten to public school first grade. We were warned that she would have some major adjustments. Would that transition problem still occur for some Dayton students if the program is changed with them. I think multiage classrooms in public school are appropriate also. Why should kids simply be sorted by age?