Montessori teaching/learning technique should replace the preexisting model of assemblyline style learning/teaching.
The lessons from an early age focus on life skills, hands on learning, concrete to abstract concepts and many other well thought practices that are well rounded styles of schooling.
It seems the current model of continuous sitting and being spoken to doesn’t really engage students. This model would profoundly improve the current system by engaging the students with many more of their senses and teaching many relevant skills to their daily lives.
This can be a highly effective practice when implemented with fidelity. The idea of teaching on a continuum and through readiness and interest is effective. Montessori methods require an extensive amount of practitioner level training far beyond a classroom teacher. Although I do believe in this practice and would put my own children in this learning environment, logistically this would take 5-10 years to implement. There are high-leverage practices within Montessori that could be implemented fairly quickly within public education that could leverage and net instantaneous results. I do think this is an option to move towards but it will take some time to rebuild to a high quality level of implementation because it requires more people to mentor, model, and practice until teaching mastery is met. And that only happens with many many hours far beyond the common teacher.
One of my grandchildren had the privilege of attending Montessori in public school through sixth grade. I wish this had been available to all. But we need to shut down the public school system. I don’t really trust the public school system to implement Montessori properly in general.
Sounds like a great idea but do you understand how expensive it is to become a Montessori teacher? There are no public colleges where you can get a degree in Montessori teaching. It’s all very expensive private schools. The people who come up with ideas like yours are usually the same people who will vilify teachers and other public servants for getting college degrees that are very expensive. You can’t have it both ways. Honestly, college should be free or very low cost. Then we can talk about all of this other stuff because if you want excellent schools, then you need to have excellent Well educated teachers. And the truth is educated people produce a pleasant society. The reason we can’t have nice things anymore is because that ideal has been devalued.
I’m not a fan of Montessori in the U.S. One issue is that many Montessori teachers here aren’t fully trained. The method originated in Italy, but what we have is often just an Americanized version. A lot of teachers haven’t fully detoxed from the traditional training they went through first, so the approach doesn’t end up being as different from conventional education as it could be.