Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ... Ill AN ITALIAN CASA DEI BAMBINI--A DAY WITH THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES What has been said thus far is almost certain to have aroused in the minds of many readers the question, "How in the world does Dr. Montessori accomplish all this?" or, perhaps the more skeptical exclamation, "It can't be done, by Dr. Montessori or anyone else!" How can children teach themselves? How can they learn without detailed verbal instructions from a teacher? How does a boy learn to climb an apple tree? By being turned loose in company with the tree at that period of his life when he feels a surging natural impulse to climb trees. A boy of three can play about the foot of an apple tree day after day and no more think of climbing it than we of walking the ridge pole of our house. A man of twenty-one can play tennis, or plough, under the tree's branches with a similar lack of monkey-like desire to climb from branch to branch. But somewhere between those ages, there is a period in every normal life when, if the opportunity is present, a 22 vast amount of muscular agility, strength and accuracy are acquired, together with considerable physical courage, some daring, some prudence, and a fair amount of good judgment, all without the slightest need either to force or persuade the child to the acquisition of these desirable qualities. The Purpose Of The Montessori Devices And Their Educational Value.--Now, for all intents and purposes, the Montessori apparatus, so much talked of, so scientifically and ingeniously devised, is simply composed of supplementary apple trees. It is made up of devices and inventions which are intended, first, to stimulate the little child's natural desire to act and learn through action; second, to provide him with action which shall give him...