A collection of essays and practical guidance in which Maria Montessori sets out her method of educating young children. She explains the learning materials, exercises, and approach that encourage independence and natural development. Valuable for parents, teachers, and anyone interested in early childhood education.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
Dr. Maria Montessori DR. MONTESSORI’S OWN HANDBOOK BY MARIA MONTESSORI AUTHOR OF “THE MONTESSORI METHOD” AND “PEDAGOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY” WITH FORTY-THREE ILLUSTRATIONS Publisher's Logo NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1914, by Frederick A. Stokes Company All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages May, 1914 TO MY DEAR FRIEND DONNA MARIA MARAINI MARCHIONESS GUERRIERI-GONZAGA WHO
DEVOTEDLY AND WITH SACRIFICE HAS GENEROUSLY UPHELD THIS WORK OF EDUCATION BROUGHT TO BIRTH IN OUR BELOVED COUNTRY BUT OFFERED TO THE CHILDREN OF HUMANITY NOTE BY THE AUTHOR As a result of the widespread interest that has been taken in my method of child education, certain books have been issued, which may appear to the general reader to be authoritative expositions of the Montessori system. I wish to state definitely that the present work, the English translation of which has been authorised and approved by me, is the only authentic manual of the Montessori method, and that the only other authentic or authorised works of mine in the English language are “The Montessori Method,” and “Pedagogical Anthropology.” Signed: Maria Montessori vii PREFACE If a preface is a light which should serve to illumine the contents of a volume, I choose, not words, but human figures to illustrate this little book intended to enter families where children are growing up. I therefore recall here, as an eloquent symbol, Helen Keller and Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy, who are, by their example, both teachers to myself––and, before the world, living documents of the miracle in education. In fact, Helen Keller is a marvelous example of the phenomenon common to all human beings: the possibility of the liberation of the imprisoned spirit of man by the education of the senses. Here lies the basis of the method of education of which the book gives a succinct idea.
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