Maria Montessori - A Biography

Casa dei Bambini - The first Montessori School

The success of her method with the mentally challenged children in Scuola Ortofrencia caused Maria to ask questions of 'normal' conventional education and the ways in which children failed.

photo of a maria studying at her table

In her quest to know more about the workings of the human mind, Dr. Maria Montessori returned to the University of Rome. This time, she pursued psychology and philosophy. In 1904, she was appointed a professor of anthropology at the university. Because of her experience at Scuola Ortofrencia, Maria was asked to open a school for children in a slum development project in the district of San Lorenzo in Rome. Maria readily gave up her job at the university and established a school on the 6th of January, 1907 and named it 'Casa dei Bambini' meaning Children's house. Casa dei Bambini began with sixty children whose parents were mostly workers.

photo of a Casa dei Bambini-first montessori house of children

Casa dei Bambini - The first Montessori House of Children

At Casa dei Bambini, Maria developed her system of education through scientific observation of the children's almost effortless ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials. Every piece of equipment, every exercise, every method Maria developed was based on what she observed children were doing "naturally" by themselves, unassisted by adults.

Children teach themselves. This simple but profound truth inspired Maria Montessrori's lifelong pursuit of educational reform methodology, psychology, teaching and teacher's training, all based on her dedication to furthering the self-creating process of the child.