Montessori Freedom Vs. Catholic Dogma?
Some may wonder whether “the large measure of freedom permitted to the child is inconsistent with the Catholic idea of authority and dogma”.1
This question was raised in a conversation when Dr. Montessori was present. Her response?
“There is dogma as well as liberty in my method
if you can only discern it.
When you say to the child ‘This is red,’ or ‘This is seven,’
what are these but dogmatic statements?”
Dr. Montessori’s biographer Mortimer Standing then emphasizes:
“It cannot be too often repeated that the Montessori idea of liberty is a liberty only to do what is right, and to think what is true. It is the teacher’s duty not only to encourage all right and useful spontaneous activities, but vigorously to correct all that is evil and imperfect.”2
1 p. 152, The Child in the Church, 1930.
2 ibid
