Amid economic and political uncertainty, it’s natural to question the value of an independent school education and ask, “Is it worth it?” As a Montessorian who has been in education for almost 30 years, first as a parent, then as an educator, and now as an administrator, I can share why Montessori education is important. 
 
Peace Education – What Montessori education is founded on. This prepares the student to care for themselves, others, and the environment. What does that really mean? Students learn to care for themselves both physically and emotionally. They learn to recognize the impact of their choices on themselves, on others and when they grow older, their impact on the environment around them. Conflict resolutions, critical thinking, and the ability to work with others is also an important aspect of Montessori education that begins from toddler onwards.  
 
Hands-on Learning – Current research from neuroscience experts like Dr. Horvath, author of The Digital Delusion, reinforces the value of hands-on learning. In his talk with the WMS community on April 23, he shared that handwriting is a complex skill that is easily transferred to technology, but the reverse is not true. Students in Montessori classrooms learn initially from using materials and then transition to more abstract learning. They learn cursive writing as research shows that students remember better when they write down what they learned rather than typing their notes. 

Soft Skills such as resiliency, flexibility, empathy, entrepreneurship and endurance, are now more valuable than before. In a world where no one is sure what the jobs of tomorrow will look like with Artificial Intelligence now in the picture, Montessori education reinforces these values at every level. Students learn to wait for their turn to use materials, that it is okay to make mistakes as long as they are learning from them, to be accountable for their learning, in Middle School they create and sell items to learn entrepreneurial skills. These are the skills that are needed in the future. While WMS prepares students to be successful in college, we also prepare them to be successful adults who make positive changes in the world around them. 
 
Every day, the Montessori lessons practiced in our school guide children toward discovering who they are, how they think, and how they show up in the world. As we approach the end of the school year, it’s a meaningful time to pause and reflect on what kind of people do we want our children to become?  
 
 
Sunita Pailoor
Head of School


Educational Technology & Students Author Talk with Dr. Horvath
Catch up on the virtual presentation and dive deeper into Montessori learning, backed by Dr. Horvath’s research. WMS families can watch the Educational Technology & Students event recording by visiting your emailed copy of this letter from April 28 or the May 3 Week Ahead email.
 
Dr. Horvath, a neuroscientist, educator, and best-selling author, shared insights with the WMS community from his latest book, The Digital Delusion. Topics included how the increasing use of technology in schools affects student learning and academic performance, and how Montessori education thoughtfully responds to these trends.