Christian Montessori Fellowship

Educating parents is not a major subject in Montessori training. Parents are not a major subject in traditional educational settings either. The traditional attitude is “Let us do our own thing.” This does not work effectively for Montessori. Montessori is transformational. First, the guide has to be transformed. We are seeing the child with whole new eyes. Then our children become transformed by the living process through the environment. But if the parent doesn’t enter into the transformational process, then both your good work and the efforts of the child are compromised. Parent education isn’t a luxury – it is vital. “Getting Your Money’s Worth” is a booklet to help educate your parents to the multiple benefits of a Montessori education.

What brings this home so dramatically is a conversation I had last week with David Robinson, super star basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs. I had given him a copy of “A Pearl of Great Price” and was sharing about the Christian spiritual inspiration behind Montessori. He related that his son attended Montessori for a year but he had no idea of what was involved. Here is an intelligent, successful man and father who wants the best for his children and no one educates him about the lifetime benefits and value of a Montessori education. What makes the story even more poignant for me, is that David went on to start and fund Carver Academy to help disadvantaged young people to get a great education. With parental education Carver Academy might well have been a premier Montessori school. (There is still hope.)

Visit the website at www.crossmountainpress.com to review the table of contents and several chapters of the book. Parent education is vital!

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46 Montessori education is one of those “pearls of great price.” But notice in the parable, the merchant had to be searching for it. Many Christian educators today are not searching for this “pearl” because they do not believe it is of great value. They have formed this opinion largely on one of three premises. First, they were not educated this way and if it were valuable they would surely have been exposed to it. Second, a popular misconception – “Montessori? Isn’t that where children can do ANYTHING they want?” Which surely can’t be God ordained. And third, “Isn’t that a New Age philosophy?”

Christian educators want to honor God with their service but have never had this “pearl” explained to them from the base of its Christian inspiration. For that fact, most Montessorians have never had Montessori taught from its Christian spiritual origins. “The Pearl of Great Price” the newly published book from Cross Mountain Press is designed to help explain Montessori education to people of faith and to explain it in the language of faith. It is a great book to give to pastors, board members and anyone who needs this Godly explanation of this amazing way to teach that God revealed to Dr. Montessori.
Order your copies today from www.crossmountainpress.com