My vision of the future is no longer of people taking exams and proceeding from secondary school to University but of passing from one stage of independence to a higher, by means of their own activity and effort of will.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of fostering independence and personal initiative in education rather than just traditional academic achievement.
Maria Montessori highlights a progressive vision for education, suggesting that the future should focus on individuals advancing through stages of independence based on their own efforts and activities, rather than merely through conventional examinations. This approach encourages personal development and self-motivation as key components of learning, shifting the emphasis from rote learning to fostering critical thinking and autonomy.
In practice
In a speech to educators, to inspire a shift in teaching methods.
... the first thing his education demands is the provision of an environment in which he can develop the powers given him by nature. This does not mean just to amuse him and let him do what he likes. But it does mean that we have to adjust our minds to doing a work of collaboration with nature, to being obedient to one of her laws, the law which decrees that development comes from environmental experience.
When we want to infuse new ideas, _x000D_ to modify or better the habits and customs of a people, _x000D_ to breathe new vigor into its national traits, _x000D_ we must use the children as our vehicle; for little can be accomplished with adults.
Noble ideas, great sentiments have always existed and have always been transmitted, but wars have never ceased.
What we need is a world full of miracles, like the miracle of seeing the young child seeking work and independence, and manifesting a wealth of enthusiasm and love.
To aid life, leaving it free, however, that is the basic task of the educator.
It is fortunate, I think, that nature is not bounded by human reason and by laboratory work and experimentation, for by the laws of pure reason and by microscopic investigation, it might easily have been proved, long before this, that children could not be born.
I probably spend 90% of my time revising what I've written.
There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men.
History is the only true teacher, the revolution the best school for the proletariat.
Oppression doesn't disappear just because you decided not to teach us that chapter.
We still raise girls to look to other people for assurance they are attractive and smart, while boys are raised to determine their own value. Many girls are still made to feel it's not feminine to be good at science or math.
Writing is literally transformative. When we read, we are changed. When we write, we are changed. It's neurological. To me, this is a kind of magic.
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