In 1896, the very year of her university graduation, she was invited as one of the speakers to the International Women’s Rights Congress in Berlin. Montessori’s identity as not only a scientist but as a human rights activist, tirelessly working to promote social justice and human rights – mainly women’s and children’s – and championing peace efforts. It is, in my opinion, equally important to consider Dr. Montessori remained clear and humble about the foundations her precursors laid out for her, and the influence of her many assistants, students and collaborators.

Throughout her life it is obvious that it was her powers of observation – and intelligently analyzing what she observed – that brought about her amazing discoveries: yet it would also be amiss to not realize she had never worked in a vacuum.

Montessori continued to further her education in anthropology and psychiatry, cultivated diverse scientific interests and maintained a lively correspondence with her contemporary academics. And as a scientist, she never really stopped being a student. Montessori’s work, one must always bear in mind that first and foremost, she was a scientist. She graduated from the University of Rome in 1896, as a Doctor of Medicine – one of the first female medical doctors in Europe. Whilst there are differing accounts on what exactly made her switch to Medicine instead, it is certain that she had to apply a considerable strength of will and conviction to complete her training. When the family moved to Rome, Montessori studied natural sciences and was intending to pursue a university degree in Engineering.

Her mother, Renilde Stoppani, was a teacher in a modern invention which we would call today a company daycare: a school serving the employees (or rather, the children thereof) of the tobacco factory where Montessori’s father Alessandro worked.Īlthough Alessandro Montessori encouraged his daughter to pursue the seemlier career of a teacher, Renilde (herself well educated) supported her daughter’s ambition for academics. Maria Tecla Artemesia Montessori was both a woman far ahead of her day yet, in a way, a true embodiment of her time: the Century of Discovery, a time when amazing new discoveries as well deep socio-political changes promised the advent of a new era of mankind and a true era of understanding.īorn in 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy, Montessori’s own early life reflected these changes. Maria Montessori has distinguished herself, in her lifetime, as a doctor, psychologist, scientist, educator, writer, activist and advocate for children worldwide.

The life of maria montessori