“It is the child who makes the man, and no man exists who was not made by the child he was once.” This is one of the tenets of Maria Montessori. She believed that the future is positively created by the children that we raise now. The Association of Montessori Schools in Visayas and Mindanao recently held its Montessori Congress in the University of San Carlos amphitheater and was packed with parents, teachers and children.
It was a fusion of diversified talent, creativity and showmanship of the children from different Montessori schools. All the various dances and lyrical dramas were well-planned, executed impeccably and proved to be a spectacular array of arts and music. The stage alone was a class of its own with its beautiful backdrop accented by a magnificently huge butterfly—all made by creative hands. Add to that were the exquisitely crafted costumes and the children enthusiastically dancing in unison.
The Association was started by Montessori Education graduates from the University of San Carlos, who eventually started their very own Montessori Schools. The Association decided to hold the Montessori Congress to improve the quality of Montessori Education in the Philippines. The congress was initially a simple exchange of ideas in which students were given the chance to ask trainers and professors about the Montessori way of Education. The congress was formalized five years ago with the common goal of further training aimed to be globally at par with foreign schools and affiliates from countries like Australia, U.S.A and Japan.
The 2008 Montessori Congress also had its induction of officers—Marivic Bathan, president; Rossini Caballes, vice-president; Rita Bernal, director; Rebecca Archeta, secretary; Deborah Pesto, auditor; and Elvira Paglinawan, treasurer; with the first association president, Dr. Jocelyn Kintanar, as adviser. Joy Augustus Young, Cebu City government’s education consultant, presided the induction.
According to Marivic Bathan, “The grand butterfly symbolizes every child who is here and ten to fifteen years from now becomes an adult.” So what kind of adults do they become? Montessori education molds them into independent, peace-loving, free yet proactive, adaptive, cooperative, happy and caring contributors, decision-makers, leaders and citizens of our country.
In a Montessori environment children are encouraged to respect each other and teach each other. It teaches independence at such a young age and makes the students an active participant in running the school. The Montessori way is centered on building character and use of visual equipment centered on learning areas like Math, Reading and Language, Sensorial and Cosmic areas and the practical skills development. Children are not expected to conform to the standards of conventional schools but are encouraged to learn at their own pace.
Children’s Paradise Montessori School presented dance numbers like Olivia Newton John’s “Let’s Get Physical” as choreographed by Barbie Romeo, Ma. Genevieve Campo, Boom Boom Evangelista, Stephanie-Miel Ouano, Sheila Roa, Pennie Rose Jabel and Ruth Romarate. They also presented a dance with a positive nutrition theme, encouraging children to eat fruits and vegetables. The fruits and veggie costumes were creatively made by teachers using paper mache. For information on Montessori education, you can contact the Children’s Paradise Montessori School, which is located in Canduman, Mandaue City, at tel. no. (032) 416-0533.