More on Montessori school

I read with interest the article by Linawati Sidarto on Montessori students break away from rote learning in your paper dated Nov. 26, 1997. I feel that an objective comparative survey of preschools in Jakarta would have been a better idea than projecting just one in glowing terms, which invariably gives a colored version to your readers. I had wanted to give my comments immediately but Mr. Frank Richardson beat me to the punch.

Compared to the other schools with U.S./UK franchises in the Kemang-Pondok Indah areas, the school in the article would probably just about qualify as a preschool. As mentioned by Mr. Richardson, the Montessori method by itself is monotonous but can be combined with activity-oriented and project-oriented programs, followed by other schools, which develop the child's logical reasoning and problem-solving ability in addition to an all-round development of the child.

Dr. Montessori advocated her method in the early part of the twentieth century and to follow this blindly and with no change defeats its very purpose. In short, Dr. Montessori's methods, though most remain very relevant even today, have to be tailored to suit the present day world.

The article does not mention that the school has also a part- time course for teachers aspiring to teach the "Montessori way", which I would like to mention to complete the "education" of your readers. These students are "guided" by persons whose approach is anything but Montessorian! Egoism, intolerance or caustic words have no place in the Montessori system. Unless curbed, there is the danger of these attitudes overflowing into regular classrooms with small children.

BHASKARAN M.M

Jakarta