Montessori and Head Start

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Maria Montessori's system of education and the American federal government's Head Start program that both stress the first few years of life as tremendously important to future achievement. The paper is of the opinion that the emphasis on the first years of life is but one of various models of early education. The paper points out that while neither Montessori nor Head Start appear to do children harm, they may not best serve children whose natures do not conform to what is said to be true of all young children.

Outline:
Introduction
Montessori Ideals
Head Start
Critical Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Maria Montessori's system of education can be compared to the American federal government's Head Start program in a concept of the first few years of life as tremendously important to future achievement. The latter is geared to equalization by early intellectual development and uplift for families, now investing in pregnant mothers and children from birth to the age of 5, as compared to Montessori education's emphasis on 0 to 6. There is a shared emphasis on prepared children who proceed without academic frustration in the case of Head Start learners, or the aggressive competition of conventional education dear to Montessori education. Both models involve fairly directive teaching with Montessori education an evolved field. As in the Head Start model, there is the need to induce a positive dynamic in the pre-school child that must occur early, the child unique but rather a blank slate; dormancy the teacher makes come alive with always constructive results."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Horm-Wingerd, D. M. Et Al. (1997). Head Start Teaching Centre Evaluation of a New Approach to Head Start Staff Development. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 12: 407-424.
• Lillard, P.P. (1996). Montessori Today - a Comprehensive Approach to Education. New York: Schoecken.
• Montessori, M. (1995). The Absorbent Mind. New York: Henry Holt.
• Zigler, E. "The Environmental Mystique - Training the Intellect versus Development of the Child," in The Head Start Debates. Baltimore: Brookes, 2004.

More papers on Montessori and Head Start:

• Analytical Essay # 130501 : "Montessori and Head Start Early Education"
• Persuasive Essay # 133406 : "The Head Start Program"
• Argumentative Essay # 96471 : "Head Start"

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