A place where children are happy to learn

As parents, titos and titas, we have all seen the sad phenomenon of young, intelligent and otherwise joyful children burnt out by the demands of their schoolwork. In many cases, learning has become a dreadful burden for them, instead of something to be enthusiastically loved and valued.

It’s really not surprising, because kids today are under severe pressure to master a vast amount of information – often through memorization and repetition – without much regard for their interests, passions or learning styles. Upon reaching their homes, they are expected to juggle even more commitments, such as homework, extra-curricular club activities and tutoring, without much time for rest, socialization or exploration.

I have read numerous studies which show that this over-scheduled and rote learning approach has serious consequences for children’s well-being, development, self-esteem and – ultimately – their future success. Indeed, when a school’s emphasis is focused on a student’s ability to regurgitate information rather than critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity, it stifles a child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn.

It was therefore a very pleasant surprise for me to learn (through wave after wave of heartfelt testimonials on parent education viber groups and community pages) that one school in San Juan has slowly developed “legendary status” for miraculously transforming dispirited, lethargic and weary children into highly motivated, energized, academically excellent and – most importantly – happy students. On top of that, I was overjoyed to see that it was Montessori de San Juan (MSJ), a school that is run by my dear friend Sandy Arellano.

After reading countless messages from parents who described their choice to move their kids from big traditional schools to MSJ as “the best decision ever,” I felt a need to explore further: What in the world was MSJ doing so differently?

Fortunately, I remembered that my cousin – an expert in child psychology and development – had both of her kids enrolled in MSJ. Her description of MSJ’s curricula, activities, facilities and overall approach to education painted a picture of an institution that addresses child stewardship with genuine concern: one marked with compassion, empathy and data-driven expertise.

“The thing is, Pia, most schools assume that all children learn in the same way and at the same pace. What happens is that children who learn differently or at a slower pace feel left behind, discouraged or disengaged,” my cousin explained.

“In terms of data, research has established that memorization and repetition do not lead to deep and lasting learning. Rather, they prevent children from making meaningful connections between what they learn and what they experience in the world. They also discourage children from asking questions, exploring different perspectives, solving problems and expressing their own ideas,” she said further.

As my prima explained this, I realized that the skills she mentioned were exactly the ones that are vital for today’s children to succeed as adults. In contrast to the world that our parents (and even grandparents) grew up in, our socio-economic landscape demands experiential learning, critical thinking and creativity, rather than passive learning and conformity.

Moreover, when children are forced to learn things that they do not find relevant or interesting, they lose their intrinsic motivation and joy of learning. Worse, they may also develop a fixed mindset that limits their potential and growth, thus hindering their academic performance and career prospects in the long run. I witnessed this firsthand in the many years I spent both as an educator and a functionary in the Department of Education.

“This is why it is so important to integrate a child’s individuality, interests and pace of learning into the way we educate them. The school must do everything it can to provide them with opportunities to learn through inquiry, discovery, collaboration and reflection,” my cousin affirmed.

“That’s why I love MSJ so much: my kids are given more space to play, create, experiment and fail. This helps them develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges, seeks feedback, values effort and celebrates progress,” she concluded.

Setting all familial and friendship biases aside, I can’t recommend Montessori de San Juan enough. From what I’ve heard, seen and assessed, it’s a school that truly understands the needs and aspirations of children and is committed to helping them become the best versions of themselves.

But please – don’t just take my word for it. I strongly encourage you to visit the school yourself and see how happy the students are, how they interact with their teachers and among each other (P.S. Don’t be surprised to see a good number of children from Manila’s top A-listers in business, politics and media happily being treated like everyone else). Talk to the teachers and staff, observe the children as they learn and play and see for yourself why Montessori de San Juan is such a special place.