South County Montessori School

The school bases its educational programs upon the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator (1870-1952). Dr. Montessori, one of the pioneer investigators of child development, saw the early years of life as crucial to the future growth and functioning of the individual.

By carefully observing children, she evolved a learning theory which stressed the importance of each child’s learning for him/herself at his/her pace. She saw that a child’s growth is marked by “sensitive periods”, periods when he/she feels an inner drive to understand certain processes, whether it be the behavior of water, the use of letters and words, or musical sounds. She observed that learning is thorough, concentration intense, and enthusiasm great when a child can pursue activities to which he/she is at this time “sensitive”. Thus encouraged, the child acquires a positive attitude toward the pleasure of learning for its own sake, and learning becomes an active personal experience.

The school does not take a doctrinaire attitude to Montessori’s insights but views them as a basis from which to create the most appropriate educational philosophy, aimed at the development of the whole child, enabling him/her to grow in both physical and mental independence, self confidences and self discipline.