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DR. MARIA MONTESSORI - (1870 – 1952)

1870 31st August Birth of Maria Montessori in Chiaravalle, Ancona, Italy

1882 Parents moved to Rome in order to give Maria a better education. They were keen that she should become a teacher. Maria had other ideas, she was not a traditionalist. She was interest in Mathematics but decided on engineering, then became interested in biology which led her to medical school.

1896 She became the first woman doctor in Italy. She joined the staff of the Psychiatric clinic, University of Rome Medical School. She visited children committed to insane asylums and realised that many children’s’ problems were not of a medical, but of an educational nature.

1897 She gave a lecture at a pedagogical meeting in Turin re the needs of the mentally deficient.

1898 She was appointed Director of State Orthophrenic School by the Italian Minister of Education. She became interested in work of Itard and Seguin.

1900 She attends a feminist conference in London – speaking on child labour in the mines in Sicily.

1904 She was appointed Professor of Anthropology at the University of Rome.

1907 January 6, 1907 – she was asked to direct a daycare centre in a housing project in the slum section of San Lorenzo. Opening of the first Montessori School.

1908 Milan and other parts of Italy.

1909 The first training course by Dr Montessori was set up at Citta de Castello near Assisi. One of the students was Anne E. George from the USA.

1912 The first Montessori school was set up in the USA in Tarrytown, New York by Anne E. George. Dr. Montessori gave a brief lecture tour of the USA.

1913 The first International Montessori course – via Princippessa Clotilde in Rome – 90 students from all over the world including Lily Hutchinson representing London County Council.

1914 The second International Montessori course via Trionfale in Rome. McClure offered to build an institute for training Montessori teachers in the USA. Dr. Montessori declined the offer.

1915 She returned to the USA. A Montessori class was held at the San Francisco World’s Fair. Helen Parkhurst official representative of American Montessori Society. The Dalton Plan evolved. Strained relations because of the Dewey’s and Kilpatrick’s objection to the Montessori Method. It is felt she was unhappy about the situation in the USA for other reasons also.

1916-1918 She travelled between Spain (Seminari Laboratori de Pedagia, Barcelona) and the USA.

1919 19^th September First London Montessori course.

1920 She visited Amsterdam. Montessori Schools waning in the USA, however flourishing in Europe and all over the world. (Dewey and Kilpatrick) increasingly exploited by Nazi and Fascist regime.

1924-1925 She edited “The Call of Education” magazine. Schools began in Holland, Ireland, England, Germany, Panama, Bulgaria and South Africa.

1925 Internal congress was held in Helsinki.

1926 Association Montessori Internationale was founded. Lectured at a meeting of League of Nations, Geneva – “Education and Peace”. Her lectures were being published in book form.

1934 Fourth International congress was held in Rome. Last visit to Italy. Revolution in Barcelona – visited Ireland. Established permanent residency in the Netherlands.

1939 She visited India. Training course 300 students.

1946 The Montessori St Nicholas Training Centre was founded at Princes Gate, Knightsbridge on her last trip to London.

1949 She addressed UNESCO. The Absorbent Mind was first published

1952 May 6^th - She died peacefully in the garden of her home in Noordwijk-on-Sea.

1954 March 4th The Montessori St Nicholas Charity was founded by Phoebe Child and Margaret Homfray and settled at 22-24 Princes Gate.

1987 January 1st Mrs Anne Mallinson OBE takes over as Chairman of The Montessori St Nicholas Charity.

1998 September 1st St Nicholas Preparatory School opened.

September 1st Montessori Centre International Training College founded at Balderton Street, London. Mrs Barbara Isaacs appointed as first College Chief Executive.

2003 April 16th Philip Bujak appointed as new CEO of The Montessori St Nicholas Charity.

2004 10th January The UK Montessori Schools Association (MSA) was founded.

2007 June The Montessori Evaluation & Accreditation Board founded to oversee the national accreditation of Montessori schools across the United Kingdom.

2008 18th June MCI purchased by The St Nicholas Charity.

September  New Foundation Degree in Arts (Montessori) launched in association with London Metropolitan University.