Bucks County Montessori Charter School Home

Greetings BCMCS Families,

 

Sorry for the semi late monthly note … recent travel was unexpectedly extended due to the weather … hope you are all staying safe and warm. Now that it's February, it’s a relief to know that the end of winter is finally within sight.

 

In continued monthly segments to better understand Montessori education, the quote that we will dissect this month [befitting as we will be celebrating Montessori Education week] is the omnipotent, ‘Education is not the filling of a vessel, but the lighting of a flame—one that burns brightest when a child is free to explore, create, and grow at their own pace.’  The initial takeaway of this quote is that Education isn't something done to a child, but rather a process ignited within them. Montessori believed that children are empty containers—passive and waiting to be filled with "valuable" data. The problem is that it assumes that if you pour enough facts into a child, they will become "educated." However, just like a jar, if you stop pouring or if the lid isn't tight, the information can eventually evaporate or become stagnant. The "Lighting of a Flame" perspective treats a child’s mind as an active force. The goal isn't to provide all the answers, but to provide the spark, the curiosity. Once a "flame" is lit, the child becomes self-motivated. They don't need to be forced to learn, as they should seek out knowledge through discovery. ‘Growing at Their Own Pace’ is the most authentic Montessori piece to this quote. Every "fire" catches at a different speed. Forcing a child to move faster than they are ready—or holding them back when they are ready to sprint—dampens their natural enthusiasm. This entire concept is especially true today, in the age of AI and instant information, as "filling the vessel" is becoming more and more obsolete. We don't need to memorize what a search engine can tell us in two seconds. We need to educate a populace whose "flames" are burning—people who have the creativity to ask new questions and the independence to find the answers themselves.

 

To revert back to Montessori education week, for the week-long observance and celebration [February 23rd through 27th], it is our intent to have the life and advances of Maria Montessori commemorated. Numerous activities are planned to honor the event formed to better understand the Montessori Method, where books will be read, stories will be told [children love to hear the story of Maria's childhood and how she overcame so many obstacles to fulfill her own dreams], art projects will be made, and bulletin boards will be decorated. As has become a tradition at BCMCS, parents will also be invited to join their child’s classroom in a ‘participatory’ manner [what we have termed ‘Parent Participations’], where they will become classroom members so as to have a firsthand look at the child-centered, individualized approach which we incorporate. The Montessori pedagogy may be one of the best kept secrets in education, with the activities this month designed to promote an increased awareness of its unique methodology. By remembering and rededicating ourselves with the excitement and enthusiasm of Montessori's vision, we hope that we all will be able to see her as a sort of 'hero,' an architect of a new kind of school environment in which children can live and work in peace and kindness. It is our wish that we will go beyond just knowing the story of Maria Montessori, to the exploration of her larger implications on ideas related to world peace and international understanding.

 

A couple important items to mention. First, with the Terra Nova/PSSA testing window approaching in April, we want to ensure all students are properly supported. If your child has an IEP or 504 Plan and you have questions regarding their testing accommodations, please contact the Special Education Department by April 1st. This allows them to confirm your child’s placement and support needs well in advance. Secondly, please keep a close eye on the school’s web calendar. This month is packed with important events, including Picture Day, Spirit Week, and Montessori Education Week."

 

Take Care as always, and until next month . . .                   Mr. Long