Who Was Dr. Maria Montessori?

The “Montessori method” was developed in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori, a visionary Italian anthropologist and Italy ’s firstfemale medical doctor,who was twice-nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The method nurtures the child’s natural curiosity and hunger for knowledge. Education becomes more than merely transmitting information. School becomes a catalyst for a child’s full development and release of human potentialities.

Professional educators believe that Montessori is part of the solution to the crisis in American educa tion. In fact, current cutting-edge reform initiatives (such as hands-on learning, multi-age classrooms, and open environments) mirror the philosophy developed by Dr. Montessori almost a century ago.

Today, Montessori education is available on five continents. In the U.S. alone, there are over 4,000 Montessori private schools and 100 public schools. In Tulsa , families founded and continue to seek out Undercroft for its ongoing excellence in the Montessori method.