Yeah but...

How many times this year did I or one of my peers say, yeah, but we are a public school. How many times did I use that as an excuse to not observe, to not make nomenclature, to not individualize a lesson, or keep track of what a student knows or hasn't quite learned yet.

Why is this used as an excuse, a crutch, to not have to follow through on who we are supposed to be. I was thinking today, because I do think from time to time, that I don't want to use that as a crutch anymore. We are a Montessori school. We are not a public school who happens to like some things about the Montessori philosophy. We are a Montessori school, that is public. There are also Montessori schools that are private, or charter. They are all Montessori, and that is how we need to see it if we are to trust the philosophy. It may seem like a silly little game of language semantics. But words are very powerful. Everytime I say that I serve at a public school, that means that somewhere in the back of my mind, I am acknowledging that I answer to the public school perspective first, then the Montessori comes later. When I begin to say that I serve at a Montessori School, it changes that perspective.

We may argue that those other Montessori schools just don't have the same problems we do. That is a correct argument. But it isn't one that we should continue to use as an excuse. Private Montessori schools have to worry about parents breathing down their necks all the time, trying to control what they do. They also have the issue of fundraising and making sure finances are available to pay the staff and supply the rooms. Many of our peers in Montessori private schools don't have very good insurance plans, if any at all. Montessori charter schools have the pressure to succeed immediately and are always under scrutiny, operating under the threat of losing their charter.

We are Montessori - with a public set of problems. Let's help each other to not use that as an excuse that keeps us from fully embracing the Montessori Philosophy.

The Choice

There comes a moment, when you have to decide for yourself, in your own heart, if you will trust the Montessori Philosophy. It might not happen at training, or even after your first year. But eventually, you have to remove yourself from your environment, tune out all the voices of your peers, look within yourself and ask, "Do I really believe this philosophy works? Am I willing to fully trust it?"

Initially making this decision is extremely difficult. There are theories and habits that you have learned about education that you want to hold on to. Trusting the Montessori philosophy will require you to rethink, or let go of them. Trusting the Montessori Philosophy will require you to let go of having complete control. At times, the simple thought of this seems unbearable. Initially, it will all seem so messy. But the difficult times will eventually pass. And on the other side of them wait the amazing rewards that the Montessori philosophy promises.

Choosing not to completely trust the Montessori Philosophy feels much easier...at first. You don't have to let go of some of those old habits or re-think. And the idea that you have all these great new materials to add to your teaching arsenal is so exciting. The first difficult year passes and you know that next year will be better, because everyone says the first year is tough. But as the second year lingers on, things aren't changing. Riding the fence is beginning to catch up to you. The students are doing the things that you were told they were going to be able to do. You begin to grow weary and doubtful that this Montessori way really works. You lean even more on your old teaching habits, that got you in this situation in the first place.

The choice. It's okay to decide that you do not want to trust the Montessori Philosophy. There are alot of amazing teachers in amazing classrooms at amazing schools that are not Montessori. But don't ride the fence. It's a miserable place to be for you and the students.