Thoughts from our veteran Montessori expert, Marie Scott, on the philosophies of Maria Montessori and the experience of implementing them in Nicaragua, at School of Louise’s Dreams…

  Maria Montessori’s teachings have been in the educational world for a long time — it’s been over a hundred years since she started a class in 1907, in Italy — with varying degrees of acceptance.  I have been in this field since 1962, and find that these practices work well for all children if followed according to Montessori’s principles:  one of which is to prepare an environment in which young children are allowed to explore learning appropriate to their age, and always with consideration for others.

     Among the criticisms I’ve heard over the years are that either the Montessori Method is too rigid, or else it is too permissive.

     The opponents who criticize it for rigidity say, “Look, in Montessori, there is only one way to do this certain activity.”  Not so.  Educators are taught one clear way to show a child an activity so as to ensure success.  Who doesn’t enjoy success?  Once a child has mastered the basic steps he is free to continue on his own, within limits, which leads to the answer to the criticism, “children can do whatever they like.”

     As for permissiveness in the learning environment, the child is shown consideration for others and the equipment in the classroom which is theirs for the use of everyone.  The teachers and later experienced children are models for new students of this respect and care.  Free choice is allowed as far as it does not harm the child, those around him or her, or the environment.

     Montessori differs from traditional education in so far that the children are not regarded as receptacles to be filled with knowledge given by the teacher.  By means of concrete materials the children explore, make their own discoveries, and retain this knowledge much more than any that could be handed to them by an adult.  There is also the opportunity for as much repetition as the child is interested in, which further increases retention of knowledge.

For me, the positive results of the Montessori Method have never been made clearer than through my experience at School of Louise’s Dreams. The teachers and students at our school have been utilizing the Montessori Method for over three years now. School of Louise’s Dreams has been an incredible resource and haven for the impoverished children of Nagarote for over fifteen years. But however wonderful our school was before, the quality of the education there has exponentially improved over these three short years. Having historically practiced traditional, rote learning techniques, our teachers now have a wide breadth of knowledge concerning the participatory, empowering Montessori techniques. This work has truly been a challenge and a wonder, to see both the teachers and students have their worlds broadened. Read more about all the work we’ve done with the teachers on our blog posts at www.therighttolearn.org/welcometoourschool2

Another successful year ended at School of Louise’s Dreams. We ended the year with a record number of students, and the most expansive program to date. The school year ended with exactly 183 students enrolled in grades that ranged from preschool to fourth grade. The numbers of students in each grade were as follows:

Preschool – 63
First Grade – 40
Second Grade – 29
Third Grade – 32
Fourth Grade – 19

The school’s Principal, Rosario Castillo Urrutia, and the rest of the staff send their best wishes to all of the school’s supporters, and thank you all for your continued dedication to the school.

With a gift from a passing group of visitors, the staff at School of Louise’s Dreams was able to beautify the classrooms a bit by painting the walls. Having previously painted the walls white with a few months ago, the student’s rooms are now vibrant colors. All the better to stir the imagination!

A teacher helping paint the walls of a classroom.

The Vernon D. & Florence E. Roosa Family Foundation continued their support of The Right to Learn last month by making a $10,000 donation to our College Scholarship Program. This gift continues the foundation’s tradition of strong support for The Right to Learn. It was the Roosa family’s generous gift a few years ago that enabled us to build a new facility for the staff and students, the new and improved School of Louise’s Dreams.  The Board, staff, and students would like to express their deep gratitude for the continued support of the Roosa family.

On Thursday, 2 September 2010, James and Eva Johnson reported that they successfully completed the final leg of their journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. Their comments and thoughts on their accomplishment are below. From all of us at The Right to Learn, thanks to those of you that supported the Hike for Our Students.

At about 11:00 AM, Eva and I crossed Washington Highway 20 at Rainy Pass, (closed in winter), and thereby finished walking the entire distance of the PCT from Mexico to Canada, 2650+ miles. We began hiking from the Mexican border in April, 2007, and for various reasons, it took us three years, (700 miles in ’07, 1340 in ’09, and the rest, plus the extra JMT miles this year.)  We are thankful to all who helped us over the years, including, especially, our hiking betters, authors, and mapmakers, trail angels. Thanks to the US Forest Service, the PCTA, and National Parks for providing us with a “world class” trail, and to all of the Volunteers who give of themselves for trail maintenance. Finally, thanks to all of you that donated to the Hike for Our Students, and supporting the children’s education at School of Louise’s Dreams!!!

     We are returning to Yosemite National Park for several more weeks to savor the Sierra once more before returning east on October 2nd. We will base out of Tuolomne Meadows, (8600 ft.) I will carry a frying pan and fishing rod, Woodrose will have extra books. We will explore Yosemite’s trails, slowly. All Best, James M.S. and Eva Johnson, aka Muleskinner and Woodrose.

From South Lake Tahoe, California. Internet cafe near Motel 6. 64 miles left to go to finish PCT in California, Echo Summit to Donner Pass. Since last visit to computer at Mammoth Lakes, we walked north from Red’s Meadow past the JMT (John Muir Trail)/PCT split up to Thousand Island Lake, then back south on the JMT 15 miles to rejoin the PCT where we had left it, hiking north again over the same PCT miles; this extra effort in order to claim ALL of the miles of the JMT. (We hiked down into the Yosemite Valley to finish the JMT. A zillion people in the Valley, pizza and beer…..took the bus back up to Tuolomne Meadows, first time in a motor vehicle in a month.) North of Tulomne, the steepest and hardest climbs on the whole PCT; Benson Lake, the “Riviera of the Sierra”, with its unique broad sand beach flanked by snow clad crags. Too cold for us to swim. 75 miles or so twixt Tulomne Meadows and Sonora Pass, 9600 feet with two lane paved Hwy 108 over, with the steepest of grades down slope to the west. We met some day hikers heading up over the crest south, and somehow Woodrose conned one of their party, who was near the car, to give us a ride down to Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station, since 1917, where we had sent our resupply box, via UPS to an address “57 miles east of Sonora on HWY 108″. It was off the grid, replete with mules and wranglers, Mexicans and Tea Partiers in giant motor homes. We had a grand time, doing our laundry, showering, a room in the main building, fine chow in the restaurant, a saloon dating from 1917, and of course I reveled in singing Nicaraguan songs for the Mexicans, who perhaps thought me odd for a gringo hiker, but listened intently and bought me beers. Got a ride back up to Sonora Pass with “No-Sweat”, an 85 year old hand from KMR. North to Echo Summit, another 75 miles, incredible geological changes, some wicked hail storms, the internet cafe is closing in 5 minutes. Please forward this to all ESdL/RTL supporters, Peace, Love and Health to all, Muleskinner and Woodrose

From Mammoth Lakes, California. We are in this tourist town (skiing, mountain biking, etc.) resting and cleaning up after the most memorable, exciting and perilous hiking experience of our lives coming along the shared tread of the Pacific Crest and John Muir Trails. Thankfully, we had hiked about 93 miles coming north on the PCT from Walker Pass, elevation 6K feet more or less, up to Trail Pass, elev. 10.5K feet, where we went into Lone Pine, Ca., to resupply. From Trail Pass north, we did not cross a road of any kind or bathe our bodies for two weeks and 165 miles, during which time we summitted Mt. Whitney, 14,497 feet, and crossed Forester Pass, 13,200 feet, and Glen, Pinchot, Mather, & Muir Passes, all over 12K feet, and others lower, the majority of which still presenting plenty of snow, and difficulty in crossing to us two old Floridiots. As the passes and elevations have lessened, the challenges of river fording have increased, as the extreme hot weather in the Central Valley has caused an increase in thunderstorm activity, which presented three successive days of lightning, thunder, peas sized hail and lots of rain, with the creeks and rivers rising precipitously.

Finding the trail is hard in the snow, as many sections are still buried even in the lower elevations; lots of rock crossing, slopping in and out of snow, searching for switchbacks going up and down. This year we brought ice axes and gaiters and we bought some excellent Microspike “crampons” in Lone Pine, all of which got plenty of use, especially my Black Diamond Raven ice axe which saved my ass during a scary moment on the last steep snow ascending Stephen Mather Pass. Cutting steps across the last traverse approaching the summit, the snow gave way and I fell like a shot down the slope, I guess about 100 feet, before I was able to stop my fall using the ice axe for self-arrest, with Woodrose screaming from above, “Use it USE IT !!!”. Hard to practice this maneuver in Florida. I later discovered a few minor wounds and bruises, all confined to my pelvic area and thankfully not my head. Woodrose was left stranded up on the snow where she had been following me across, hyperventilating. Lucky for us, there were hikers above, who had been watching us trying to come up for an hour, who had the skills to cut vertical steps in the snow down to Woodrose and encourage her to climb up and off the snow.

The rain and hail that drove the rivers up presented almost equal difficulty to the steep snow covered passes, although as Woodrose says, the passes take all day, crossing snow and route finding at 1/2 mile per hour, whereas the fords are typically only five minutes of fear and danger. Waist deep in cold rushing water arm in arm, one of us takes a step and then communicates with the other whether or not we have our balance and feet firmly planted, and then the other of us takes a step forward, cold and hesitant. At least here in the Sierra we can see the bottom, unlike the glacial streams of northern Washington which run milky white, but it is very hard for us. Our shoes and socks always wet.

When and if we can hike successfully hike from Walker Pass to Donner Pass, and include the extra miles of the John Muir Tail, Eva and I will have hiked well over 5,000 miles together, but we have truly never experienced anything over all of those miles that even comes close to the thrill and spectacular beauty and majesty of the Sierra Nevada in California. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park; we haven’t even gotten to Yosemite yet. This is truly world class in every aspect, this highest hiking in our continental US. We overestimated our ability to complete these miles, stretching our food resources to the max before we were able to resupply at Muir Trail Ranch; my partner down to the skinniest size of our 25 plus years together; I may even see 200 lbs by the time we get to Donner Pass.

As far as our hopes to use this hike to help our little school in Nicaragua, our ability to even mention Suenos de Luisa has been very limited, given the effort and concentration it has taken us just to cover these difficult miles without injuries. Tremendous Latino influence in the California culture, many of the local businesses staffed by courteous and competent bilingual people, needless to say, I have great enjoyment continuing my study of Spanish, providing equal enjoyment for the many Latinos who enjoy and are surprised by the variety of songs that I know and love to sing. A gringo singing “Casa de Carton” amazes lots of folks.

James M.S. Johnson and Louise Brunberg recently made guest appearances on two Florida radio stations when they were invited on air by Diana Donlon from Englewood, Florida’s WENG station and Sarasota’s WSLR with Bob Conner. James and Louise utilized this time to discuss the work being done at School of Louise’s Dreams. Louise recounted the story of her initial visit to Nagarote in 1993, and how the school was eventually established. James spoke of his own first visits to the school and how he evolved into one of The Right to Learn’s Board Members. James and Louise also highlighted the importance of the school’s presence, due our students’ inability to attend Nagarote’s public schools. They mentioned the upcoming trip to Nagarote and their hopes that more volunteers might be willing to join them in the future.

Steering Committee Member David Chatowski recently returned from a long visit to Nicaragua. While there, David continued his ongoing work of teaching art to children. On his two month visit, David split his time between Nagarote and the mountain city of Somoto, in the northern region of Nicaragua. David spent a full month with the students of School of Louise’s Dreams, managing to complete a full 30 classes and working with each and every student at the school during the visit. The art subjects covered during this trip included: both acrylic and watercolor painting, drawing techniques, and rendering from observation, imagination, still life, and portrait. David noted that the children responded very well to his art program, and that their artistic skill improved dramatically as a result of their participation.

David Chatowski, working with students on still life painting

 
David also managed to find time to develop a new, weekend food program as well. With help from another non-profit organization, Samaritans International in Managua, he secured weekend meals for our students and other impoverished families in Nagarote.

A second visit to our school came just this last month, when our founder, Louise Brunberg, led yet another Montessori training group. Marie Scott and Whelma Thompson, both veteran Montessori teachers, joined Louise to spend a few weeks working with the teachers on new ways to engage their students.