Strange but True Facts about Maria Montessori

Something about a girl named Maria…

When Maria Montessori was born, August 30, 1870, Italy had just become a united country. During this time girls were not allowed a public education. A girl’s family, and the Catholic Church, determined her education. Women belonged to their fathers, husbands, brothers, and uncles. Women could not have their own bank accounts, own property, or vote.

Maria was 7 years old when Italy first opened its doors to women for public education. This was part of the great changes that were taking place during the recent birth of Italy. Maria Montessori was definitely a woman born for her time. She was able to bend the norms of Italy’s changing society to become an outstanding educator.

Even though Dr. Montessori is known as an innovative educator, she was the first female physician in Italy. From medical school she specialized in psychiatry. During her internship, she worked in mental institutions where she was overwhelmed at the plight of the handicapped, poor and developmentally delayed children. It was from the pain of these lost children that fueled Montessori’s passion to develop a better method for helping the underprivileged. From this experience she developed her educational materials and methods and opened her first Children’s House in Rome’s ghetto. Today, we still benefit from her profound understanding of how infants and young children learn. In fact, many of her methods and theories are being confirmed and rediscovered today.

Recommended Materials

If learning about Maria Montessori has inspired you, these resources are wonderful additions to your home library! The Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work by E.M. Standing is a classic biography that every Montessori parent should read, and The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori gives you a glimpse into her brilliant thinking in her own words.

Related Lessons

Maria Montessori was truly a remarkable woman, and the more you learn about her life, the more you realize just how revolutionary she was. She was one of the first female physicians in Italy, she developed her educational method by carefully observing children in the most challenging circumstances, and she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times. Her story is one of courage, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child.

What I find most inspiring is that her method was never static — it was always growing and evolving. Even after achieving international fame, she continued to observe, refine, and improve her approach right up until the end of her life. She faced exile, war, and personal hardship, yet she never wavered in her mission to advocate for children. When we set up our home environments, present a lesson with care, or simply pause to observe our child at work, we are carrying on a legacy that began over a hundred years ago — and that is something truly special to be a part of.

Montessori Mom