Pros and Cons of Montessori as opposed to main stream schooling?

Question

Hi,

Wonder if someone could help. My 4 year old son has just started at a Montessori school (not my choice - only school in the area) I have been advised against this as they say Montessori kids battle with the transition into main stream schooling ans I do not want to put him at a disadvantage when he starts "big school" in a few years. Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

There really is no right or wrong answer to this question. My honest opinion is that both are good. Even if you in the inner city. It all comes down to the Parents support and participation in the child's school.  The more involved you are the better chance your kid has in both curriculum's.

Answer 2

My mom recently made the offhand comment that my first elementary school was Montessori-style. I had no idea, I just thought it was different because we moved between them and the new school was naturally different. I certainly didn't have transition problems except, like starting any new school, I didn't have *exactly* the same body of knowledge as the other kids. It was really fine, I was even a little ahead.

Answer 3

You might have more answers to your question if you ask in Preschool or Primary and Secondary Education.

If it's a good Montessori school, your son probably won't have a hard time. Transitioning to regular school depends on the Montessori, the child's innate personality and how the parents handle it. I have heard that most kids do quite well transferring out of Montessori into a regular public school program. He won't be at a disadvantage.

http://www.dmsonline.org/html/transition...

Answer 4

Whenever I hear this question I think about a scene in the movie Mean Girls.  Kady, the movie’s protagonist has been homeschooled in Africa by her anthropologist parents. Her first “real” school is a public high school.

At first she is shocked and confused by the rules of the school.  As she says in a voice over,”Never before had I lived in a world where adults didn’t trust me. I got in trouble for the most random things.”  Then she is seen getting up to sharpen her pencil or to go to the bathroom and teachers being dismayed with her.

This is the kind of “transition” problem Montessori children have.  They have been taught to be responsible and to think for themselves and now they are placed in a situation where they aren’t usually allowed to.

Being a Montessori teacher in a traditional school, I can tell you that these are the things that teachers get upset with.  My program only goes to 3rd grade, so I get to hear it from the 4th grade teachers everyday. I’m not going to lie to you, they complain.  I think it is human nature to be skeptical of things that are different and to try and find fault with them. But over the years I’ve tried to push past the complaints and actually look at the “problems” that my students have when transitioning.

First are the MANAGMENT problems.  Asking permission for everything. Montessori students are used going to the bathroom when they need to go, they sharpen their pencils when they need to, they get up and get something that they need to complete their work with, they put on chapstick…. The only time I make them ask for permission is during a lesson or if they have been abusing the privilege, so a classroom where they have to ask permission, or just aren’t allowed to do such things during class time takes a little time to get use to.

SOCIAL-  Montessori students are used to working together and helping their peers.  They are used to using conflict resolution skills to work through their problems, they are used to the teacher not only respecting their input and opinions, but encouraging them, and they are use to respecting other children’s needs and having their needs respected.  This can cause a problem when children are now in a situation where they are constantly given ultimatums and they aren’t allowed to come up with solutions on their own.

ACADEMIC- Montessori children are use to being able to move on to new material when they are ready for that information, not when the scripted program and district benchmark says that they should. They are also used to saying to the teacher, “I’m having a lot of problems understanding this concept, could you show it to me in another way?”  Additionally, they are use to having a hand in their education. A common question is “May I study ….  a write a report on it for science this week?” Obviously, in a classroom where the teacher follows a script and teaches only what they are scripted to teach, will take some time getting used to.

So yes, there are adaptation problems. But you know what? Montessori children are unusually adaptable. They know how to work independently and in groups. They are problem solvers who can make choices and manage their time well. So in general, after an initial adjustment period, they can do adapt quite well. And, at least in my eyes, the skills that they have learned from being in Montessori classroom completely outweigh the problems that they encounter when they first make the transition to a traditional school.

As far as what are the pros and cons of Montessori education...The most comprehensive longitude research on Montessori Education in comparison to traditional education was published last year by a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, Dr. Angeline Lillard.. Her recent article was so well researched and documented, that it is the only educational article ever to be published in a scientific magazine. Using her findings she has written a wonderful book called Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius where she relates all of her findings. In it she addresses your worries about children transitioning to more traditional forms of education and your question on the pros and cons of Montessori education

I do think that is is very important for you to read her book, but here is a quick overview. Her findings and other studies’ report that Montessori students have:

*more interest in learning,

*more self disciplined

* have a greater understanding of truth and fairness

*more creativity, especially in their writing

*are more independence

*a better understanding of concepts from grammar and story structure to mathematical operations, algebra and geometry

*have a deep understanding of and how geography, history, social studies, and science are all related.

Answer 5

I have never heard commentary either way for transition from Montessori to traditional schooling. I assume the difficulty depends on the adaptability of the child. Some love change, while others are very upset by it. The only con I found was that there are no Montessori schools in my area. The ones I have found semi-locally are only for elementary aged children. I'm a huge fan of Montessori methods and I think you may find you like what they do for your child. If not, you can always choose to homeschool instead. Homeschooling in the teen years would also solve the transition issue into later grades.

Answer 6

Look long term.   Is your goal to help your child in school or in life?

Montessori doesn't perpare children for "traditional school."   Montessori has a much more advanced curriculum and it gives children the opportunity to think independently.  This is a lot different from thinking "let's turn to this page and do what everyone else is doing."

If you are looking for conformity, Montessori is NOT the right choice.

The disadvantage really depends on the teacher he goes to.  I have tutored former students who are bored because they didn't get enough challenges.

If you're looking for someone to succeed in life, Montessori is a good choice.  If you're looking for someone to succceed in public schools, the public school system might not be a bad choice.

Matt