Would like opinions, both pro and con, from people who are personally experienced with "Montessori" education

Question

Would like opinions, both pro and con, from people who are personally experienced with "Montessori" education!
In my area we have pre-school through Middle school (Montessori) - if I do send my child to this type of school, what do you do for High School..."Home School"? Thanks!

Answer 1

I've had my girls in an AMS accredited Montessori school since they were 18 months old. That was 3 years ago and they are still there.

I had always wanted something a little better for them than a traditional day care, traditional preschool, and the traditional elementary school. I didn't want to see them sitting at a desk listening to a lecture like I had been taught.

Even before having children I had been interested in the Montessori Method, especially since my under-grad degree is in Education. I have seen the principles first hand, experienced the "prepared environment" of the classrooms, and talked with their teachers (directors). I would not put them anywhere else, now. Not ever.

It's too difficult to explain in a few paragraphs how this schooling environment is so different, and so wonderful. I know my girls are excited about going to school. I know that they enjoy learning things when they are ready to learn them, and they tend to learn them earlier and faster than would be considered "normal". It's not that they are geniuses, it's the beneficial environment that is created in a good Montessori classroom.

Here's just a little reading on the topic,

Students Prosper with Montessori Method
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=000D5CF0-96EF-151D-96EF83414B7F0000

New Scientific Study Supports the Montessori Method
http://www.montessori.org/story.php?id=286

What Montessori Parents are saying about Montessori Education
http://home.neo.rr.com/larrow/parents.htm

Research studies on Montessori education
http://www.montessori-ami.org/research/research.htm


There is so much more, but I'll stop there. Suffice to say - I have a degree in Education and I would not put my children anywhere else than a Montessori classroom.

As far as High School, that's going to be up to you and the child. Home Schooling is an option. Integration into a normal high school happens all the time. Be prepared to find that your child will need additional stimulation - advanced classes, outside studies, etc. Or, you could move to Cincinnati where they have public Montessori high schools! :-)

Answer 2

Tough question! The answer for me is not so tough. Public schools today force parents to accept sex education as a whole package which includes homosexual behavior as being normal. Abstinence only is one avenue towards the same end which is to try avoiding SDT's and pregnancy. Having children under the right conditions is the best of all worlds. It is experience with all the things that can go wrong even under the best of conditions that leads adults to encourage abstinence ie. divorce, early, unplanned, underage, poverty, death etc. The subject of allowing abortions is another matter. That is after the fact. The women is already pregnant. There is only the question of how do you treat the unborn child? The question of the legality of abortion has been addressed in the courts the issue of it's being moral has not. Morality is a personal issue. Society makes the laws and people make the choices. God makes the rules. There's also the matter of the death penalty vs. pro-life. The judgement of God is to be carried out by man on earth in the form of capital punishment.

Answer 3

I once worked for a doctor that sent his 3 boys to Montessori school. They went as a pre school or head start. They learn quite a bit as little guys. Very smart boys.