essence of Montessori: Those adolescent years, The

Montessori Life, Summer 2003 by Loeffler, Margaret Howard

Ursula Thrush, an early proponent of the Erdkinder model in the US, died recently, and we shall miss her wise guidance. She started one of the first farm schools, following Montessori's suggestion, in the San Francisco area in the 1970s. Her faith never faltered in the belief that only through an education based on understanding of children's developmental needs and interests will we be successful in creating a peaceful and harmonious world. Certainly the third plane of development provides a major challenge to parents and educators in meeting this goal at this important time in history.

References

Inhelder, B., & Piaget, J. (1958). The growth of logical thinking from childhood to adolescence: An essay on the construction of formal operational structures. New York: Basic.

Loeffler, M.H. (2002, Spring) The essence of Montessori in the elementary years. Montessori I,ife, 14(2), pp. 39-40.

Montessori, M. (1948). From childhood to adolescence. New York: Schocken.

DR. MARGARET H. LOEFFLER is director of the Oklahoma City University Montessori teacher education program and founder/co-director of the Teachers Research Network.