REVIEW by Anne Bussey
. . . Today I felt so good inside
I worked so hard, I felt such pride.
I concentrate, a worthy goal,
Which forms the basis of my soul.
With Montessori my mind has wings . . .
As the founder and retired Head of a Montessori school, I read Charlotte Cushman's book with enthusiasm. I love the following lines from Ms. Cushman's adaptation of a poem by an unknown author:
. . . Today I felt so good inside
I worked so hard, I felt such pride.
I concentrate, a worthy goal,
Which forms the basis of my soul.
With Montessori my mind has wings . . .
In her book, Ms. Cushman offers a very reasoned approach in explaining Maria Montessori's methods and in commenting on the issues that arise when working with children (and their parents) in a Montessori school. I too gave explanations such as these in talks with parents of children in my school. As a former Montessori teacher, I'm pleased that Ms. Cushman has taken the difficult step of putting her knowledge into a book that addresses many parents' concerns and that can help parents come to realize that the Montessori Method really does matter for their child's success and happiness.
Former founder and director of Chesapeake Montessori School in Annapolis, MD.