The Montessori Heritage

Her method of schooling, focussing on personal development rather than exams, has been shown by recent research that produces more mature, creative and socially adept children. Psychologists in the U.S.A. found that children at Montessori schools out-perform those from traditional schools. Globally today there are about 22,000 schools based on the Montessori method. The number reaches 66,000 if one includes the schools that adopt a partial Montessorian approach. Although founded in Italy, in this country today there are only 140 schools (500 if one includes the partial adoption of the method). The small and relatively unknown Marche region, where Maria Montessori was born, boasts the highest number of schools per inhabitants in the country. In addition to schools for different age groups, there are students hostels, training centres for perspective Montessori teachers, paediatric clinics, libraries and associations dedicated to study her methods.