Montessori and Catholic Education: Different Language, Same Mission
By Laura McCrady, Catechist

The root of the word Education is the latin educere, meaning “to lead out”. In Montessori Education, we clearly see this as the goal. We recognize that every child is a unique being, with individual gifts and talents, and an innate desire to learn and grow. Our role as guides is to lead the child to achieve their highest potential and prepare them for the full and amazing life they are to lead.

Maria Montessori focused on what theologians and Catholic educators have been discussing for centuries; the idea that, in order for a child to truly develop into the best and fullest version of themselves, then all aspects of the person must be nurtured- the physical, the intellectual, and the spiritual. As a Catholic herself, she recognized this need and approached it through her theory of Cosmic Education. The spirituality of the Child is explored through three essential questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? Why am I here? These questions form a unifying framework for the entirety of a student’s Montessori education. It allows the child to not only discern knowledge but to seek purpose from the earliest stages of their development. The child recognizes the interconnectedness of all beings, the need to live for and with each other, and the imperative need for Peace.

Within the Atrium, this framework is brought into focus through the lens of the Catholic faith tradition. Children explore the idea that one’s purpose is not just what one wants to do with one's life, but how we can use our gifts and talents to fulfill our vocational call to serve others. The uniqueness of each individual is reflected in the call to honor the inherent Human Dignity afforded to others through the fact that they are made in the image and likeness of God. The very first moments of life, when single-celled organisms came into existence, are shared as a wonderful gift we have all been given, and encourage the children to recognize the importance of our common home and its care. Catholic Social Teaching supports the students' understanding of the interconnectedness and the constant work that is needed to ensure that we are pursuing the Common Good for all people. To strive for Peace within the world is to seek the Kingdom of God.

This context, however, does not imply rigid acceptance. Students are encouraged to question, to discover, to encounter, and to discern, both independently and with each other. Time in the Atrium is spent wondering, encouraging those from all backgrounds and religious traditions to share their experiences, while finding commonalities as we seek what is good, true, and beautiful. These transcendent realities, as originally found and expressed by the Greek philosophers, and further elaborated upon by St. Thomas Aquinas, is the root of what all humans seek. A Catholic Montessori education provides the child a beautiful framework in which to discover who they are, their unique gifts, and their purpose in life.