For the first three years of my education, I was surrounded by Maria Montessori’s

http://nokomis.spps.org/

educational concepts and beliefs. The time I sent at preschool – as ridiculous as this may sound – were the best years of my education.  I can personally appreciate the change that this social entrepreneur had on all educational systems.  I didn’t realize this at the time, but looking back on what I learned from age three to six, I am astonished.  At age five, I learned how to polish shoes and peel carrots, how to write in cursive and even how to multiply, all of this on my own accord.

http://www.noodle.org/noodlings/k-12/your-childs-education-examining-montessori-waldorf-and-democratic-schools

As a social entrepreneur, Maria Montessori recognized a social problem: children’s experience in the educational system did not allow for personal exploration or sensory manipulation.  Her social mission was to improve the way children were educated, allowing them to choose and carry out their own activities.  Maria Montessori was not simply a social activist or a social service provider: she was a visionary.  She completely transformed the way children are educated, specializing a child’s education for their specific needs, whether gifted or special needs.  Today there are over 20,000 schools worldwide that are carrying on the work done by Maria Montessori a hundred years ago.