Though we are proudly Torit Montessori School, I haven’t written about our “middle name” until now.
In the summer of 2021, I took an introductory class on the Montessori approach. I had always heard of Montessori, but the schools I had worked in until then were progressive or traditional independent schools. As the course progressed, I started to see the brilliance of Montessori, as well as some potential pitfalls. I’ll sum those up with two rhetorical questions:
What is the Pink Tower? And why is it pink?
The first question is easy to answer: At first glance, the Pink Tower is a stack of blocks. They stack nicely, ten blocks high. They range in size from 10 cubic centimeters to just 1 at the apex. Dr. Maria Montessori designed the Pink Tower and other hands-on, sensorial materials to allow children to see, touch, feel, smell, and make sense of the world around them. The Pink Tower helps children distinguish differences in dimension and weight. It takes precision and accuracy to complete the tower, which in turn teaches self discipline.
Dr. Maria Montessori believed in children’s natural curiosity. She understood that by exploring the world around them, children developed ways of knowing and internalized concepts. Trained as a physician, she believed in experimentation and observation, and she wove both into her philosophy. Rather than teach with rigidity at desks with worksheets and memorization, she wanted children to learn by doing and by experiencing the wonder and beauty of their environment. The Pink Tower, then, is a tool that allows children to learn with their hands. It’s a beginning, not an ending.
And why is the Pink Tower pink? I’ve seen two answers. One goes that Dr. Montessori experimented with different colors, and she observed that the children were more attracted to pink. I’ve also been told that she only could find a can of pink paint, and the tower has been pink ever since.
I tend to embrace the second explanation. Here’s why: smart and innovative as she was, Montessori tends to be mythologized, even sainted. I’ve visited some schools where a black and white portrait of Montessori stares down from above. Undoubtedly she was insightful, but I doubt she would want her philosophy or materials frozen in time. If she were alive today, I bet she’d embrace contemporary materials and tools. Would she have kids staring at screens all day? I don’t think so! But would she see some value in using technology? I’d venture a yes.
So while the Pink Tower isn’t going anywhere, I don’t think Montessori would be wedded to any particular material. Instead, I believe she would embrace learning by trying different approaches with different students, recognizing that teacher plasticity in the delivery of lessons addresses the neurodiversity of children. We know a whole lot more about the brain and learning than Montessori did in her era. The Pink Tower may be here to stay, but it’s not the only way.
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Counselor Judy Burrows, a former colleague of David’s, will join us on Thursday mornings to consult with teachers and support positive mental health initiatives within the school, including working with elementary students as a group to support well-being. Judy graduated from Boston University's School for the Arts and pursued further education in psychiatric social work at Smith College. She recently retired from Boston Children's Hospital but still supports individuals at Emerson Hospital and in her private practice. More at https://www.theburrowsgroup.org
Onward,
David Liebmann
Head of School