Footprints

Footprints
Transition From a
Montessori Parent To A
Montessori Educator
This is my ninth year as a parent
and first year as an educator in
Anweshana. I believe that I am
blessed to have found such a
school (in fact another home) for
our children. Initially, it was a
bundle of doubts and fears. I just
could not take
it when I was
told there is no
board as such.
But slowly and
gradually, I
grew (still
growing) with
my children to
understanding
the method
and the impact
it is having on
the children.
The
orientations
held every year
were very
helpful,
especially the
times when we
parents were
taught like
children. Every
time, I came
for
an
observation, my only regret was
that I did not get such a school
when I was a child.
As the years went by, I became
fascinated with the Montessori
method so much so that in 2017, I
decided to do the Montessori
course. I must admit that it was
far more difficult to transition from
the role of a parent to that of an
educator. What appeared to me as
a parent as a stress free and
involving way of learning turned
out almost the opposite for me.I
had to unlearn everything I had
learnt till now and had to come
down to the level of a first timer in
school. Unlearning took a long time
and just when I thought that the
worst is over, I had to start
learning the art of teaching from
scratch. Easier said than done !
The method demolishes and grinds
to the dust everything you have
carefully nurtured, built and
understood about education and
the way it is taught. This method
forces you to get down to the level
of the children, think from their
point of view and make the
method appeal to them. It is a
liberating view for both the
educator and the child once we
understand the intent behind the
method. Education becomes an
experiential, relaxing, knowledge
enhancing experience which is
what it was supposed to be instead
of the results driven, pressured
and restrictive environment it has
become now.
I am grateful for all the wonderful
and unique experiences being
woven into our lives. If I do not
mention my colleagues who have
helped me in this journey of
discovery, it would be unfair. Even
as I was dreading the start of my
alternate career and joining
Anweshana, my teammates put me
completely at ease. Here it was a
completely different world. I
nervously joined the school but my
fears were unfounded. They put
me at ease and helped me sail
through. Even as I asked doubts,
clarifications and suggestion many
times, they patiently dealt with all
my queries and fears. They kept
reassuring and encouraging me by
relating their own experiences and
the challenges they faced and how
they overcame it.
I wish that my children will be able
to finish their education here
before going on to college.
-Pushpa Thomas (Parent /Educator)
Everything you say to your child is absorbed, catalogued and remembered - Dr Maria Montessori