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Birth of Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was born on August 31st, 1870 in Italy. Her father is Alessandro, who worked as an accountant in the civil service. Renilde Stoppani, her mother had a passion for reading and was educated. -
Montessori Family Moved to Rome
In the year 1875 Maria and her family moved to Rome. She enrolled in the school Via di San Nicolo da Tolentino. As she got further along in her education, she tore down road blocks that stood in the way of women finding their way in careers what were dominated by men. Between the year 1886 to 1890, she continued studying at the Regio Instituto Tecnico Leonardo da Vinci. Women who have second studies usually study the classics. Maria had other intentions like becoming and engineer. -
Going Against The Grain
With Maria’s graduation approaching, her parents wanted nothing more for her to find a career in teaching. During this time, teaching was one of the few occupations that was available to women. She was determined to pursue a medical career to become a doctor. Her father was against this idea due to the fact that medical school at the time was meant for all boys. Maria was rejected entry by the head of the school. She ended her interview saying, “I know I shall become a doctor”. -
Furthering Her Education
After studying physics, math and sciences at the University of Rome, Maria earned her diploma. With the help of the Pope, she was able to enter the Faculty of Medicine and became the first woman to enter any medical school in Italy. Even though medical school was not easy as she faced prejudice from her male colleagues, Maria won many scholarships during medical school with the money she earned through private tuition. She was able to pay for most of her education in the medical field. -
Making Use of Her Studies
Maria added that she was a surgical assistant at Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome to her Portfolio in November 1896. Most of her work surrounded families that were poor, focusing on the children. She was known for the caring demeanor she tended with to her patients. She made sure her patients were well fed, comfortable and also diagnosed them for any illnesses followed by treatment. -
Romance in The Air
Following after tending to patients at Santo Spirito Hospital, Maria volunteered to join a research group in 1897 for a program at the psychiatric clinic of the University of Rome. There began romantic interests between Maria and Giusseppe Montesano. Disclosure: This photo may or may not be Giusseppe. -
New Institution with Guisseppe
Maria’s work began to gain more recognition in 1898 after working with the children from the asylum in Rome. At just 28 years old, she was asked to address the National Medical Congress. Later the following year, she also addressed the National Pedagogical Congress. Maria became a co-director alongside Guisseppe Montesano for a new institution called the Orthophrenic School. At her new institution, she experimented and refined materials. She observed and taught children while taking notes. -
Maria and Her Son Mario
Maria and Guisseppe’s love affair seemed to be going along well as she gave birth to a boy named Mario in 1898. Mario was given to a family to be cared for in the countryside of Rome. She visited her son often but it wasn’t until Mario grew older to know that Maria was his birth mother. A strong bond between the two was created and he actually traveled with his mother continuing her work until her death. -
Hands on Research
During Maria's time at the clinic, she treated patients at an insane asylum located in Rome. A caretaker explained to her that children would pick bits of food off the floor after their meal. At this time, Maria realized that the children were in need of stimulation for their hands. Since they didn’t have this, it contributed to their condition. Maria had done research and read all she could about mentally retarded children. She expanded her knowledge of education by taking courses in pedagogy. -
Lending a Helping Hand
Maria Montessori left Orthophrenic school in 1901. She focused on her studies of philosophy and anthropology. She became a lecturer at Pedagogic School of the University of Rome. Companies in Rome were going bankrupt and buildings were occupied with squatters. Wealthy bankers turned these buildings into new apartments, but children started damaging these buildings. The developers reached out to Dr. Montessori to gain a helping hand in occupying the children in an attempt to stop the damages. -
Montessori's First Book
During summer of 1909 Dr. Montessori was giving her first training course to about 100 students. In the same year, she published her first book in Italy using the notes she had. It was then translated into 20 different languages and has become a great influence in education. -
Tragic Heartache
Maria faced a deep heartache when her mother died on December 20th, 1912 at age 72. Following her mother’s death, Maria brought her 14 year old son Mario to Rome to live with her. -
Returning Home
The Montessori method became well known through training programs and schools. Dr. Montessori kept herself occupied by traveling for public speaking and lectures. Most of it occurred in America but she also traveled around the UK which led her to Europe. She returned home from the US in 1917. Mario, her son, was married to his first wife, Helen Christy and they had four children. -
Montessori Practice Comes to a Halt
Maria had it in her to create a permanent center dedicated to research and development for early year education. There was so much fascism in Spain that it prevented her from doing so. All of the Montessori schools were shut down in 1933. During the outbreak of the civil war, Montessori and her family abandoned their home and left for England in the summer of 1936. -
New Beginnings
Maria and Mario went to India with a journey to give a 3 month training course followed by lectures. However, they both did not return home for 7 years. Mario was imprisoned while Maria was placed on house arrest. Montessori was looked up to after India where she came in contact with Gandhi, Nehru and Tagore. For Maria’s 70th birthday, she wished that the India government released Mario back to her. In fact, they did. Upon his release, they both trained thousands of Indian teachers. -
Last Moments with Maria Montessori
Maria and Mario returned to the Netherlands, which is also where her grandchildren were taken care of by Ada Pierson, Mario’s second wife. Maria was giving the first three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. The last engagement she had was in London during the International Montessori Congress in 1951. And on May 6th 1952, Maria Montessori passed away with her son by her side.
