Burn-out and Battle Fatigue are common problems among classroom teachers today. The joyful experience of the children in the Montessori classroom is sharply contrasted with the dominant social forces of fear, stress and inadequacy which affect everyone in the world today. Many Montessori teachers become discouraged or lose interest after several years of classroom teaching.
Teachers Need Support
Montessori teachers and schools, often isolated and alone among hostile forces in society, need the support of companionship and inspiration afforded by others of like-mind. Montessori organizations have emerged to meet this need by providing opportunities for teachers and administrators to participate with others in the Montessori community. The largest, most widely known organizations have emerged from the certification of teachers through their affiliated teacher training programs. Teachers naturally look for support and encouragement from the institutions which granted their certification. Employment and other support services are often sought from these organizations.
National/International Organizations
The existence of a variety of teacher training organizations which issue certification and recognize schools is evidence of the vigorous climate of participation and interest in Montessori education. However, lacking is a larger umbrella agency for the accreditation of Montessori teacher training programs to assure effective communication and harmony among these diverse groups. Lacking this accreditation agency, the Montessori community appears factionalized and weak to the general public. IMS supports the formation of an International Montessori Council to serve the necessary function of an umbrella agency. Details of how this agency would function will be presented in the future.
Local/Regional Organizations
Of immediate concern to most local Montessori school communities is internal harmony and cooperation to support their common purposes as defined by local problems and interests, including working with the state and local government education agencies. Restrictive regulations and requirements often deter the effectiveness of Montessori education with respect to staff-child ratios and teacher certification requirements. Local organizations are needed to serve the entire Montessori community with respect to the unique interests of local Montessori schools.
Establishing a Local Organization
An effective local organization invites participation from among the entire Montessori community with the purpose to support communication, harmony and effective interrelated functioning of the Montessori community throughout the region. A newsletter, funded preferably by membership dues, is the only essential function of the organization; however, workshops, meetings and other activities are appropriate based on interest. IMS has prepared a list of specific goals for local organizations which would be shared with individuals who express interest by completing the reader response form.
Originally published in 1980 in Vol. 1, No. 3 issue of The Montessori Observer