What a chaotic world we live in. In what seems like the blink of an eye, our world has turned on its side, uncertainty has crept in, and everything we counted as stable and secure has become a distant memory. We have found ourselves scrambling to find some semblance of normal while information is hurled at us like rapid fire. We are all working tirelessly to keep ourselves and our families safe, all while combatting the unfriendly stares as you reach for the last package of toilet paper.
If I have learned anything in the past week, it is that fear and isolation have the tendency to bring out the worst in humanity. In an attempt to protect ourselves, our fight or flight instincts take control, and our awareness of others gets cloudy. But what we tend to overlook in these stressful times is our need to connect with others. Humans are hardwired for relationships. On a physiological level, connection reduces stress while isolation can cause feelings of pain and loss. In short, separation from others will have lasting physical and emotional effects that can only be remedied by engaging in community.
In the Montessori world, children are afforded numerous opportunities to interact with each other. Our students are encouraged to collaborate with one another because, in doing so, they are able to find validation in their interconnectedness. Each child, in their own way, finds their place among the whole, and feels secure because of what they have to offer their peers and the community.
We should count ourselves lucky that Montessori offers so much more than academic rigor. While, yes, math is important, language is important, understanding history so that we don’t repeat it is important, let us not forget the most fundamental need of the modern human, connection and community. The Montessori classroom is ripe with opportunities to connect with one another. Friendships are formed within the walls of our classrooms that have a lasting impact on how our children see the world and interact within it. Within the confines of our little Montessori bubble, students can share without fear of judgment, they can learn about each other and themselves by simply being with one another. Daily life in the Montessori space is designed to foster healthy interactions with one another, and to nurture grace and courtesy. Without these things, our students, and ourselves, would be forced to forge a path alone, dependent only on ourselves, instead of leaning on our community for support.
Dr. Montessori recognized the strong desire for connectedness and based much of her philosophy around these ideas. If we take to heart what Dr. Montessori put into practice over 100 years ago, then we are also committing ourselves to live in harmony with one another. We are promising to look out for each other, to act out of love and grace, and to set aside our differences for the greater good. Dr. Montessori spoke of a classroom community where children of multi-age groupings were working together in “cooperation rather than competitiveness.” She described the children as having respect for the environment, as well as their classmates, in large part, due to their access to freedom within the classroom.
So, as we begin to navigate what this new normal means for each of us, it is important to remember what fills our buckets and brings light and love into the world. I read a quote recently that said this, “Getting outdoors is not canceled. Music is not canceled. Family is not canceled. Reading is not canceled. Singing is not canceled. Laughing is not canceled. Hope is not canceled.” While we are forced to stay away, to distance ourselves from humans as best we can, I urge each of you not to let go of the things that connect us and ground us. Get outdoors, sing as though no one is listening, play board games or put a puzzle together, get lost in a good book, and, most importantly, hold on to the hope that this too shall pass.
Montessori On My Mind 