Jakarta International Montessori School

Jakarta International Montessori School

Schools used to be an intimidating place where children were
coerced by adults into learning, punished for misbehavior and
humiliated when their grades fell behind other children's. Thus,
schooling became a chore to be endured on the path to adulthood.
Many parents, having experienced unpleasant schooling themselves,
now recognize these approaches as unhealthy; they want their
children to have more fun than they did in school.

The Jakarta International Montessori School (JIMS) may be what
these parents are looking for. Started more than four years ago,
the school uses an alternative teaching method based on the
Montessori philosophy.

Maria Montessori, born in 1870, was the first woman doctor of
medicine in Italy. Her philosophy for early childhood education
continues to be adopted by schools all over the world today.

"JIMS is a child-centered school," said Frank Richardson,
Principal and Director of the school. "We tailor our teaching to
each child based on their individual strengths and weaknesses."

This approach is what sets the school apart from other
international schools. The school admits children from the age of
two-and-a-half to 12, making it the only primary school in
Jakarta using the Montessori method of teaching. Although
Montessori preschools have been around in Jakarta for more than
10 years, Montessori primary schools are a new concept.

"It's completely opposite to the Indonesian education system.
Here, instead of being passive, children can question what the
teachers tell them," Richardson said. "We want to develop
initiative in our children, to get them thinking for themselves,
and be adaptive to different environments." The school
incorporates the Bintaro Independent Personal School, allowing it
to admit local as well as foreign students.

Unlike conventional schools, JIMS strives to develop each
child as a whole person -- mentally, physically and spiritually
-- by enhancing their self-esteem, self-confidence, inner
discipline and independence. This refreshing approach is
reflected in the range of activities offered by the school.

For instance, instead of pushing children through education,
the school encourages them to think and ask questions through a
variety of creative and stimulating activities. "There is a
natural drive in children to learn, as long as the right
environment and opportunities are provided," Richardson
explained.

The school provides specially designed equipment to train
children to apply all their senses in learning. Preschoolers
learn to recognize alphabets not just by looking, but also by
feeling the special surface texture that defines the alphabet.
Manipulative materials such as knobbed cylinders that fit only in
their own sockets teach a child abstract concepts that are
applicable in mathematics and practical life.

A series of wooden models, designed to explain natural
phenomenon such as volcanoes and rain, are placed on a low shelf,
to be picked up, touched and examined by the children, at their
own pace. As a result, children learn things that interest them
at the moment.

Taking a tour around the school, one could see how different
this school is.

In one class, every child was doing a different thing. This is
because children here are given the freedom to choose, with
guidance, the assignments they want to do. Older children can
select the projects of their choice and develop them through
their own research either in the library or in the computer
station. This encourages independence and self-discipline to
develop.

In another class, children from the age of 5 to 7 were put
together.

"We're trying to develop vertical integration within the class
by encouraging cooperation between the different age groups,"
Richardson explained. According to the Montessori philosophy,
children like to work together and love to share what they have
just learned.

"We teach children to have respect and tolerance for one
another, rather than encouraging division of any kind,"
Richardson continued. "In some countries, divisions in race,
class and schools may have contributed to student violence." At
JIMS, children begin their school day with a fun activity aimed
at cultivating a strong sense of community.

This sense of belonging, in turn, creates a sense of
responsibility in children, which eliminates a great deal of
childhood misbehavior. At JIMS, the children can be heard talking
freely, but never making loud noises.

Richardson attributed this to the children's sense of
responsibility. "We teach them to be motivated from within," he
said.

Based on a blend of the British and New Zealand curricula, the
subjects taught at JIMS include art and craft, music, dance,
geography, science, mathematics, Bahasa Indonesia and French. For
sports, the children are taken to the nearby International Sports
Club of Indonesia, where they swim, and play football, badminton
and baseball.

Since the riots in May last year, many parents' priority is
safety when choosing schools. Richardson said the school
understands this concern and keeps a close watch on what's going
on in society. The school was able to send all the children home
safely during the riots last May.

JIMS also provides transportation to some areas of Jakarta.
"We have special procedures for our bus drivers in the event of
riots. Each bus is also assigned a chaperon, who will take the
children to a safe place," said Richardson.

JIMS employs teachers who are highly trained and experienced
in the Montessori teaching method. The teachers' task is to
control the environment and guide the child in exploring the
world. They recognize that learning is a process of mutual
discovery, and they achieve success when the child no long
requires his or her assistance. The school uses educational
material that is mainly imported from Britain, the U.S. and
Australia.

Another advantage of JIMS over other international schools is
the cost.

"Our fees are less than 50 percent of what other Western
international schools are charging," Richardson said. "Moreover,
there is no capital levy in our payment scheme." Most
international schools require a heavy deposit on enrollment.

While the economic climate may seem unfavorable for
international schools, Richardson said that the number of
children enrolled at JIMS has increased since the economic
crisis. The school is responding to this demand by planning the
building of new premises at Bukit Mas, off Jl. Veteran, Rempoa.
These new premises will have the capacity to accommodate 180
children. JIMS has also opened a branch school in Balikpapan.

Looking at the number of happy faces throughout the school, it
seems that parents have finally found a happy place for their
children.

For further information, call the school direct on 7350505 or
9117549, or e-mail khresna@cbn.net.id. (Sadie Mah)