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History of Montessori in Australia |
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Montessori Education in Australia
Montessori education first came to Australia in the early part of the last century. The first Montessori classroom was established at the Blackfriars School in Sydney in 1912. Montessori formed the foundation of much of what was referred to as progressive education in the first four decades of the 20th century. Montessori, along with other progressive education declined during the war years. It was not until the late 1960s and early 1970s that Montessori education re-emerged, this time however with renewed vigour and phenomenal growth which continues today.
History of The Blackfriars Montessori School, Sydney
Although it is difficult to pinpoint the beginning of Montessori education in Australia, articles and ideas began to appear after 1910. Most notably these articles reached Martha Simpson, the mistress of the Infant Department of the Blackfriars School in Sydney. Miss Simpson wrote an extensive report suggesting that a person be sent to Rome to study with Dr Montessori. In 1912 the first modified Montessori classroom was set up at Blackfriars. Miss Simpson travelled to Rome in 1913 to enrol for Dr Montessori's training course, but as soon as she mentioned the Blackfriars experiment, she was invited to attend lectures and schools to tell students there about the work in Sydney.
Martha Simpson did enrol in Montessori's second International Training Course in 1913. When she returned to Australia she plunged into a round of meetings and lectures while also resuming her duties at Blackfriars and preparing her "Report on the Montessori Methods of Education". The latter was illustrated with many photographs, explaining Montessori theory and practice, the work at Blackfriars, and also made some recommendations for NSW education. Miss Simpson advocated Montessori's method of teaching reading and writing; that the didactic apparatus be used in one-teacher schools to give the teacher more time for older pupils; that the State use Montessori's methods for developing the intellectual, physical and moral powers of the children and for reducing academic retardation. She remarked, "based as it is on liberty, the Montessori system is particularly well suited to the educational needs of a free, democratic country like Australia, where self-reliance, individuality, resource, originality and freshness of thought are qualities much to be desired in the future citizens."
In the following years Blackfriars Infants Department was a hive of Montessori activity. Visitors came in a stream, teachers in training and older teachers learned how to manage a Montessori class, the teachers at Blackfriars gave lectures and demonstrations before groups and societies of many kinds. One experimental class was taken beyond the Infants level using the methods for older children that Miss Simpson had seen in Rome. When Miss Simpson became the first woman inspector of schools in 1917, she was able to promote Montessori directly through the State. Rachel Stevens, her collaborator, succeeded her at Blackfriars, and continued the work.
In 1938 Martha Simpson died and in her, the greatest driving force in Australia to that time. Montessori, along with progressive education, declined during the war years. It was not until the late sixties and early seventies that Montessori education re-emerged, this time with a renewed vigour.
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To commemorate the Blackfriars School, the Montessori Association of Australia has produced a series of blank greeting cards which have now been available for sale for some time within the Montessori community; we would like to extend this offer to the general public who have an interest in Montessori. See "For Sale" section on the left for further details.
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Montessori