Montessori Method

An essential resource for all students and scholars of early childhood education, this book offers a rich array of material about Maria Montessori and the Montessori Method. Distinguished education scholar Gerald Gutek begins with an in-depth biography of Montessori, exploring how a determined young woman overcame the obstacles that blocked her educational and career opportunities in Italy during the late Victorian age. The author then analyzes the sources and influences that shaped the Montessori philosophy of education. After laying the foundation for Montessori's development, Gutek presents an annotated and abridged edition of The Montessori Method (1912), the seminal work that introduced her educational innovations to a U.S. audience. The book concludes with key historical documents, including disciple Anne E. George's notes on the Montessori lectures and William H. Kilpatrick's critique of the Montessori method. Preserving the historical context of Montessori's contribution, Gutek also shows the continuing relevance of her thought to educational reform in the twenty-first century.

The Montessori Method: The Origins of an Educational Innovation: Including an Abridged and Annotated Edition of Maria Montessori's The Montessori Method creates the context in which Maria Montessori developed her philosophy of early childhood education. It examines how a determined young woman overcame the obstacles that blocked the educational and career opportunities in Italy during the late Victorian age. Following Montessori, who was the first woman to earn a medical degree from the University of Rome, the biographical introduction takes her story to the establishment of the first Montessori school: the Casa dei Bambini in the slums of Rome. It then analyzes the sources and influences that shaped the creation of the Montessori philosophy of education. Special attention is given to The Montessori Method as the book that introduced this educational innovation to an American audience. The book is divided into four parts: (1) a biography of Maria Montessori: (2) an introductory commentary on the Montessori Method of Education: (3) an abridged and annotated edition of Maria Montessori's The Montessori Method (1912): (4) related documents.

Library Journal

While still controversial within certain circles, Montessori remains one of the most important figures in the history of educational reform in the 20th century. Editor Gutek (educational leadership & policy studies, emeritus, Loyola Univ.) divides this volume into three parts: a brief biographical introduction of Montessori, an abridged and slightly annotated version of one of her seminal works, and a few very brief examples of contemporary reactions to her ideas. Any significant reevaluation of Montessori's life and work should find a place in any library, but Gutek's latest book does not make the grade; it does not reflect the rich interpretation of Montessori's work one might expect of an eminent philosopher of education. There is little in this new edition to recommend it to any library that already holds the original source work (The Montessori Method), Rita Kramer's Maria Montessori: A Biography, or even Gutek's own textbook (Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education: A Biographical Introduction, 3d ed.), which includes a sketch of Montessori not significantly shorter than the one provided here.-Scott Walter, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Gerald Lee Gutek is professor emeritus at Loyola University. In 1989, he was the Loyola University of Chicago Outstanding Faculty member. Among his books are A History of the Western Educational Experience (1995), Philosophical and Ideological Perspectives on Education (1997), American Education 1945D2000: A History and Commentary (2000), and Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education: A Biographical Introduction (2000).