Inappropriate government regulation of Montessori schools is a major current barrier to the complete and effective application of Montessori principles throughout the world. One Montessori school owner, summarizing her frustration in the face of local regulation stated: “They are a typical self-serving bureaucracy, overly zealous in creating and enforcing un-needed regulations on every aspect of our operations.” Mistrust, fear and hostility appear to be pervasive conditions within which the regulation of Montessori education occurs.
Detrimental Regulation
Day care agencies, under whose authority most Montessori schools function, often seek to enforce inappropriate regulations, notably restrictive staff-child ratios and group size requirements. Other areas of enforcement often include requirements affecting nap-time, equipment, program and hours.
Some licensing agencies defend the enforcement of restrictive staff-child ratios on Montessori schools by citing national studies which seem to indicate that such ratios provide a dependable assurance of program quality. However, since it is unlikely that such studies adequately considered Montessori programs in their research, it is equally unlikely that the conclusions of such studies can be appropriately applied to Montessori programs. One federal government official defended the restrictive staff-child ratios of the federal day care regulations (FIDCR) by stating: “Our research indicated that few federally funded children were enrolled in Montessori programs.”
Confronting Regulations
IMS confronts the inappropriate regulation of Montessori schools through extensive direct communication with local day care licensing agencies. In this regard, selected officials in such agencies regularly receive the Montessori Observer. In addition, specific suggestions and comments are provided by IMS to enable the most advantageous revision of regulations and accommodation to the unique needs and concerns of Montessori education.
Communication is Key
Communication is the basic means to resolve regulatory difficulties with local officials. This needed communication is considerably enhanced when the local schools actively participate with IMS in this process of confrontation and communication.
Courage Needed
Local schools need considerable courage to confront regulations since the school’s license to operate may be jeopardized by such confrontation. However, the alternative to such confrontation is a continuation of fear and uncertainty within which Montessori education cannot effectively express itself. Montessori schools cannot function effectively in violation of legal requirements or in compliance with inappropriate regulations. The dilemma of detrimental regulations can only be effectively resolved through the creation of new conditions consistent with a complete commitment to Montessori principles.
Creating New Conditions
Montessori schools can create the needed new conditions through a process of communication and confrontation with the local regulatory agencies. IMS particularly acknowledges those schools willing to engage inappropriate regulation through confrontation with local government agencies. Such confrontation is under way in many jurisdictions, notably in the states of Oregon, Michigan and Maryland. IMS seeks to participate with individual schools and local organizations to resolve specific difficulties so that these efforts can serve to benefit the entire Montessori community.
Originally published in 1981 in Vol. 2, No. 3 issue of The Montessori Observer