What kind of parents choose Montessori?

[Anonymous]

I have read about the Montessori philosophy and really like it in theory. But, when I have gone to open houses at Montessori schools, I have been really put off by the other parents. They seem really intense. Montessori is supposed to be a non competitive environment but I am seeing the exact opposite at these schools. DH and I are really laid back and are not sure whether Montessori is right for our family. Does Montessori attract a certain type of family? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Uh, we're very laid back and not competitive at all - and we chose Montessori simply because we toured a bunch of different schools (Montessori and non-Montessori) and thought the Montessori one was the best fit for our kid and family.

Are you saying you were put off by the other parents attending the open house at the Montessori schools or by the parents who actually have kids who go to the schools and are volunteering at the open houses? A lot of people tour open houses because they're doing their research and do not necessarily end up applying to or going to their school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh, we're very laid back and not competitive at all - and we chose Montessori simply because we toured a bunch of different schools (Montessori and non-Montessori) and thought the Montessori one was the best fit for our kid and family.

Are you saying you were put off by the other parents attending the open house at the Montessori schools or by the parents who actually have kids who go to the schools and are volunteering at the open houses? A lot of people tour open houses because they're doing their research and do not necessarily end up applying to or going to their school.

I was put off by the other parents attending. They seemed pushy and not very friendly. This was at 2 open houses so not a big sample but it did concern me.

[Anonymous]

Montessori is trendy right now. Some parents will be there because they genuinely believe in the philosophy for their child. Others will be there so they can say their child goes to a Montessori school. And then they'll post threads complaining about how their child isn't getting enough academic instruction in Montessori because their teachers aren't pushing them more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, we're very laid back and not competitive at all - and we chose Montessori simply because we toured a bunch of different schools (Montessori and non-Montessori) and thought the Montessori one was the best fit for our kid and family.

Are you saying you were put off by the other parents attending the open house at the Montessori schools or by the parents who actually have kids who go to the schools and are volunteering at the open houses? A lot of people tour open houses because they're doing their research and do not necessarily end up applying to or going to their school.

I was put off by the other parents attending. They seemed pushy and not very friendly. This was at 2 open houses so not a big sample but it did concern me.

Ah, I see what you're saying. I think if you're considering the school, you should ask to meet parents whose kids actually go to the school - the admissions director can probably put you in touch.

[Anonymous]

I didn't notice much difference with parents (I had one kid in a Montessori school and one in a regular school), but for my kid it wasn't the best experience. We are sociable people and too much of the Montessori day was individual work. My kids learn best by interacting with the teacher and their schoolmates - singing, playing, conversing, etc. We found Montessori to be too controlling.

[Anonymous]

Another parent who says:

It was close and seemed like a good fit.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why the Montessori method attracts so many intense exchanges on this site. There is one, or a couple of posters, who regularly post erroneous and inflammatory information about the Montessori method - they clearly have an axe to grind!

As a scientist, I really appreciate the self-checking aspect of many of the Montessori materials. It teaches the child the scientific method and rigorous critical thinking at an early age, which is the basis for all learning, be it liberal arts or STEM. I like how the child can develop at his or her own pace, and how he can choose which activities to do first. The teachers will make sure each child is exposed to all the age-appropriate materials, but it's interesting to see what individual children gravitate towards. Even though all Montessori schools include social activities like circle time, songs and cooperative games, I really like how Montessori children are not obligated to do everything as a group - that's one aspect of standard early childhood education I find stifling. Each child works independently, which is again essential for higher-order thinking and concentration.

Now to answer your question. I'm sure there are all kinds of parents at our Montessori preschool. I am friends with the ones who have a similar parenting philosophy as DH and I. There are a couple of parents I don't much care for, but this is a matter of individual taste and it's not the school's fault. I don't interact with these parents and so there is no problem on my end.

I would caution you not to make too much of a one-time encounter, particularly during something so charged as an Open House. Nervous parents asking questions rarely present their true selves. I've been to tons of Open Houses over the years, and I've heard the most nurturing, laid-back parents utter complete inanities, such as "How do you cater to children who can already read? How advanced is your math program compared to MCPS?" etc, etc. it's typical of an Open House.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another parent who says:

It was close and seemed like a good fit.

This is us too. I wasn't seeking it out for my kid, but it was around the corner, and he loved it. Worked for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another parent who says:

It was close and seemed like a good fit.

This is us too. I wasn't seeking it out for my kid, but it was around the corner, and he loved it. Worked for us.

This was us. It was the easiest and followed the DCPS calendar. So many of the schools we looked at started after Labor day and ended before Memorial day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montessori is trendy right now. Some parents will be there because they genuinely believe in the philosophy for their child. Others will be there so they can say their child goes to a Montessori school. And then they'll post threads complaining about how their child isn't getting enough academic instruction in Montessori because their teachers aren't pushing them more.

YES. This is 100% true, especially on DCUM. People pick it because they think, for whatever reason, that educated parents choose Montessori. Then they get mad because the pedagogy doesn't push kids to read at 2.5 or do algebra at 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't know why the Montessori method attracts so many intense exchanges on this site. There is one, or a couple of posters, who regularly post erroneous and inflammatory information about the Montessori method - they clearly have an axe to grind!

As a scientist, I really appreciate the self-checking aspect of many of the Montessori materials. It teaches the child the scientific method and rigorous critical thinking at an early age, which is the basis for all learning, be it liberal arts or STEM. I like how the child can develop at his or her own pace, and how he can choose which activities to do first. The teachers will make sure each child is exposed to all the age-appropriate materials, but it's interesting to see what individual children gravitate towards. Even though all Montessori schools include social activities like circle time, songs and cooperative games, I really like how Montessori children are not obligated to do everything as a group - that's one aspect of standard early childhood education I find stifling. Each child works independently, which is again essential for higher-order thinking and concentration.

Now to answer your question. I'm sure there are all kinds of parents at our Montessori preschool. I am friends with the ones who have a similar parenting philosophy as DH and I. There are a couple of parents I don't much care for, but this is a matter of individual taste and it's not the school's fault. I don't interact with these parents and so there is no problem on my end.

I would caution you not to make too much of a one-time encounter, particularly during something so charged as an Open House. Nervous parents asking questions rarely present their true selves. I've been to tons of Open Houses over the years, and I've heard the most nurturing, laid-back parents utter complete inanities, such as "How do you cater to children who can already read? How advanced is your math program compared to MCPS?" etc, etc. it's typical of an Open House.

This was why we chose Montessori - our kid's personality fit the model whereby kids choose their own work. There was still collaborative work and play -- there was in fact circle time at her Montessori and ample play time in the afternoons -- but being able to select what she wanted to focus on during the work cycle was important for our kid, instead of being herded along to do what everyone else was doing.

I'm sure I did NOT present well at school open houses either to the admissions people at the school or the other parents - I was nervous and, frankly, overwhelmed! Information overload, tons of other people at the open house, multiple other school tour events -- all of this left me a jangled mess!

[Anonymous]

All the parents at my kid's montessori, Christian Family Montessori, are pretty laid back. One might even say some are a little granola/crunchy. Definitely NOT competitive. It is hard to be competitive with Montessori, I would think.

It probably depends on the montessori, though. I got a different feeling when I toured Aidan montessori, but then I never actually met parents of kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montessori is trendy right now. Some parents will be there because they genuinely believe in the philosophy for their child. Others will be there so they can say their child goes to a Montessori school. And then they'll post threads complaining about how their child isn't getting enough academic instruction in Montessori because their teachers aren't pushing them more.

Weird statement. I went to a Montessori school in the 70s. I think Montessori is the opposite of trendy. I think it's a consistent program.

We did not choose it for our child, but I think that it's a program that is not trendy, but research based and something that parents feel they can trust. However, it does NOT work for all children (it would have been terrible for mine). Many parents don't know what Montessori is when they choose it.

[Anonymous]

Its been trendy for a LONG time.

Who? People with a lot of disposable income. People who "believe" in the method. And people who like to do things without proven outcomes or results, but names that seem smart. IE, Attachment Parenting.