Montessori: Pedagogical innovation, fascist affinity, and the commercialization of education 280 214
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51896/easc.v4i1.1244Keywords:
Educational capitalism, didactics, fascism, history of education, pedagogical research, Montessori method, Montessori, educational theoryAbstract
Even today, for some, Maria Montessori remains one of the most influential figures in education, and her methodology continues to be applied in tens of thousands of schools worldwide, more than a century after its invention. However, this article presents a narrative review of the darker and lesser-known aspects of the method and its creator, with the aim of initiating a critical debate. It analyzes how her methodology has been commercialized to this day, as well as how the interests behind this process may have altered our perception of the Italian educator's pedagogical proposals and her own history, minimizing questionable aspects such as her relationship with Mussolini's regime. Investigating and revealing this dark side of Montessori's life and work is essential for applying her ideas critically and responsibly in the classroom, without being influenced by interests unrelated to education. According to our research, the Montessori Method appears to have become practically a commercial "brand" for the sale of materials, the creation of centers, and the offering of private training courses. Regarding the method itself, while it represented a significant advance for its time, it was not based on a rigorous scientific methodology that would justify some of its more questionable principles and elements for classroom application, such as the lack of cooperative work and the development of creativity before the age of six. As for the author, among other aspects, it has been shown that Maria Montessori collaborated with Mussolini's fascist regime between 1922 and 1933, and the regime's great interest in the methodology, coupled with Montessori's silence on the matter, is curious.
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