Franklin Montessori student age 3 left in Forest Hills Park by teachers today

[Anonymous]

Why the split? Why did Montessori need to even fight it?

I think that article explains the split in a pretty even-handed way, but an oversimplification is that AMI believes that Montessori programs should be implemented as faithfully as possible to Maria Montessori's original lesson plans, and AMS believes that her lesson plans, while very good and a departure point, are in some cases inconsistent with modern educational research, and in those cases, modern research should prevail. I see merits to both positions.

As for why her son was willing to sue over it, I don't know. Charitably, he sincerely believed the AMS standards were harmful. Cynically, like all children of famous people, he probably wanted to maintain tight control over his mother's ideas, both for personal and monetary reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:We had been considering Franklin down the road but obviously are now put off by this. Are there any alternatives in NW?

Many alternatives. Can you be more specific? Do you want Montessori or full-time? Same general location? Or just another good option? What age?

Montessori would be preferable, but just another good option would be good to know too. Age is 3YO. We need a full-day program. Thank you!

There are other options. Have you tried The Goddard School?

Broad Branch Children's House. In CCDC.

Aidan Montessori is an excellent AMI-certified Montessori school in NW - our family has been very happy there. It has full-day options depending on the age.

AMI is the authentic certification. Maria Montessori's son, another physician, fought the newer bogus certification, but lost in the American court system.

If you want the true Montessori, only AMI qualifies.

I'm not sure any PP was really asking about the difference between AMI and AMS, so I won't type out a detailed reply, but this comment strikes me as pretty stupid (and one that AMI explicitly disagrees with). If anyone is actually interested in the differences, I think this article is pretty good:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/12/the-great-montessori-schism/266217/

I am an AMS teacher, and consider myself a "true Montessori teacher." What an ignorant comment stating otherwise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Franklin parent here.

Obviously this was an incredibly unfortunate incident, but I, as a parent, was satisfied with the actions Randy took to immediately notify the Franklin community of what happened and the follow up. I have have been running afterschool programs in DC for seven years, and while no one has ever lost a child under my watch, I do know that things like this can happen, and it doesn't make me feel that my child is unsafe at the school.

For those who'd like to know, there was a parent meeting, and it was decided that children would no longer go to the off-site playground. A committee was formed, including many parents, to improve the after care program. I have never gone to the woods with the kids, but they post photos on a class-site, and you can see that the students walk in a line and are wearing the bright yellow sashes to make them hard to miss if a student should go astray. It seems that they have three adults with each two-year old class. It's a wonderful program they offer and I am confident in my son's safety.

I would also like to echo what former and current Franklin parents have said about the quality of the program. My husband and I have been blown away at the care and attention my son receives. We adore his teacher, and are looking forward to him growing there over the years and sending our next child there. For them to shut them down over this would be a shame. Finally, the tuition does not seem astronomical for the service and we are grateful that we can afford it. I don't mind someone making a profit off running a school, but I do hope the teachers are well-compensated, as they are incredibly knowledgeable, hardworking professionals who deserve to make a good living.

Past Franklin teacher here. No, not well compensated at all. In fact, when I was there, there were no benefits...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why the split? Why did Montessori need to even fight it?

I think that article explains the split in a pretty even-handed way, but an oversimplification is that AMI believes that Montessori programs should be implemented as faithfully as possible to Maria Montessori's original lesson plans, and AMS believes that her lesson plans, while very good and a departure point, are in some cases inconsistent with modern educational research, and in those cases, modern research should prevail. I see merits to both positions.

As for why her son was willing to sue over it, I don't know. Charitably, he sincerely believed the AMS standards were harmful. Cynically, like all children of famous people, he probably wanted to maintain tight control over his mother's ideas, both for personal and monetary reasons.

I've had kids in both AMS and AMI schools, and they are pretty similar. The big difference I noticed was that the AMS preschool did "circle time" and group lessons in addition to the individual Montessori lessons. So, the day would start with everyone on the carpet and the head teacher introducing a short concept related to the larger theme the class was covering. So, if they were learning about Antarctica, the teacher would show the kids some ice cubes or whatever and talk about the theme for a few minutes before releasing them to their individual "works."

The AMI school didn't do this. Kids were brought together in small groups (by age cohort, I think) for songs or a group lesson but there weren't "themes" for the whole class.

I kind of preferred the AMS version, as it let the parents have more of a window into the child's day. So, if I knew the class was learning about woodwinds, I could ask specifically about that at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

If Nancy Rambusch believed her method's to be superior to Montessori's, she should have slapped her own name on it. But hey, no one would have bought into the Rambusch method. She hijacked the Montessori name and won the fight in the American courts, where Montessori didn't have a chance.

Complete sleaze. That's why I have no respect for AMS. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

10:55 - The other thing I've noticed is that AMI folks can be super snotty about both AMS and about non-Montessori approaches. I actually had the head of admissions at a local Montessori tell me they wouldn't consider a child who had been out of Montessori because "even a week in public school will kill a child's spirit."

[Anonymous]

^^^ Oops. I meant 10:55 here.

[Anonymous]

Do not forget it is also the TEACHER....not whether they are AMI or AMS. There are both good & bad AMI & AMS teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not forget it is also the TEACHER....not whether they are AMI or AMS. There are both good & bad AMI & AMS teachers.

Well obviously. But that's another thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not forget it is also the TEACHER....not whether they are AMI or AMS. There are both good & bad AMI & AMS teachers.

Well obviously. But that's another thread.

Respectfully, it is not that obvious to a surprising number of people who are very black and white about AMI vs. AMS.

[Anonymous]

The unfortunate fact remains that AMS didn't originate from a good place. That was extremely disturbing to me when I researched it's shameful beginnings. I therefore have more trust and confidence in AMI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The unfortunate fact remains that AMS didn't originate from a good place. That was extremely disturbing to me when I researched it's shameful beginnings. I therefore have more trust and confidence in AMI.

I mean, Waldorf was started by a white supremacist to promote white supremacy. It doesn't mean they don't have some decent ideas every once in a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The unfortunate fact remains that AMS didn't originate from a good place. That was extremely disturbing to me when I researched it's shameful beginnings. I therefore have more trust and confidence in AMI.

It began when she was asked BY AMI to adopt the program for America. AMI didn't like the new program (among other reasons, because she thought teachers should have college degrees!) so she started it as a separate program. Calling that history shameful seems silly and hyperbolic, to me, and still hating it five decades later seems wholly irrational, especially given that even AMI has long since abandoned that position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The unfortunate fact remains that AMS didn't originate from a good place. That was extremely disturbing to me when I researched it's shameful beginnings. I therefore have more trust and confidence in AMI.

Your criticisms so far seem exactly as reasonable as a Catholic person screaming at Protestants that they are shameful and unchristian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The unfortunate fact remains that AMS didn't originate from a good place. That was extremely disturbing to me when I researched it's shameful beginnings. I therefore have more trust and confidence in AMI.

It began when she was asked BY AMI to adopt the program for America. AMI didn't like the new program (among other reasons, because she thought teachers should have college degrees!) so she started it as a separate program. Calling that history shameful seems silly and hyperbolic, to me, and still hating it five decades later seems wholly irrational, especially given that even AMI has long since abandoned that position.

Who do you believe asked Nancy Rambusch to "adopt the program for America"? No one.