Who Were the Two People Whose Writing and Work Most Influenced Maria Montessori
Jean Itard and his student Edward Seguin both influenced Maria Montessori in 3 major ways.
Both Itard and Seguin used meticulous observation and was very scientific in their study and in recording data. We see in much of her philosophy that she approached her work in the same way.
It was this approach that caused her to observe the children during learning, rather than try to teach them. She wanted to see what she could learn from their behavior. She found that they were interested in and enjoyed learning as long as the environment was made to fit their needs.
Furthermore, Itard and Seguin both had a basic assumption that distinguished them from other scientists at this time. They believed that retarded, and disadvantaged people, such as
Itard’s study of the wild boy of Aryzon could be taught. Although
Itard wasn’t very successful in teaching the particular boy, he learnt a lot by believing he could. This basic assumption was carried over to children, and the effect was very successful. The children minds was assumed to be abled for learning, rather than empty spaces that had to be filled with the teacher’s ideas.
Itard was the first to believe that an enriched environment could compensate for developmental delays caused by hereditary disposition as well as deprivation in stimulating environment.
Thirdly, Seguin believed specifically that training the senses would result in the development of the whole person. Itard’s study of the Boy of Aryzon confirmed the idea that unless training during certain sensitive periods occur, the ability and the skill would be lost. Maria Montessori focused a lot on the idea of sensitive periods.
When reading about the focus of these two scientists, it is easy to see to what extent their life had a major influence on
Both Itard and Seguin used meticulous observation and was very scientific in their study and in recording data. We see in much of her philosophy that she approached her work in the same way.
It was this approach that caused her to observe the children during learning, rather than try to teach them. She wanted to see what she could learn from their behavior. She found that they were interested in and enjoyed learning as long as the environment was made to fit their needs.
Furthermore, Itard and Seguin both had a basic assumption that distinguished them from other scientists at this time. They believed that retarded, and disadvantaged people, such as
Itard’s study of the wild boy of Aryzon could be taught. Although
Itard wasn’t very successful in teaching the particular boy, he learnt a lot by believing he could. This basic assumption was carried over to children, and the effect was very successful. The children minds was assumed to be abled for learning, rather than empty spaces that had to be filled with the teacher’s ideas.
Itard was the first to believe that an enriched environment could compensate for developmental delays caused by hereditary disposition as well as deprivation in stimulating environment.
Thirdly, Seguin believed specifically that training the senses would result in the development of the whole person. Itard’s study of the Boy of Aryzon confirmed the idea that unless training during certain sensitive periods occur, the ability and the skill would be lost. Maria Montessori focused a lot on the idea of sensitive periods.
When reading about the focus of these two scientists, it is easy to see to what extent their life had a major influence on