(Aug. 31) – Today is the 142nd birth anniversary of Maria Montessori and Google is celebrating the occasion with a new Doodle on its front. The Italian educator, known for her method of education, has been the first female physician in Italy and has dedicated her life pursuing an educational reform. She carried out her research work and psychological studies in elementary schools and eventually developed her own pedagogy based on science. According the North American Montessori Teachers Association, the method is practiced in about 20,000 schools around the world, for children up to eighteen years of age. The method is rooted in independence and giving children a bit more freedom than they would have in more traditional schools. Her research suggested that a schoolroom should be equipped with teaching material and other child-sized furnishings giving children the liberty to choose and carry out activities of their choices. This doodle shares a special place in Google’s heart, as the company’s co-founders credit their success, at least in part, to the Montessori Method. (red)
