Dewey and Montessori on Education

The essay will outline some of the contributions of each theorist and make a comparison as to who among the two is most favored in the child’s educational development. Maria Montessori Montessori was the first female physician in Italy (Frierson, 2015). Her clinical observations ensured that she learned how the children learn. She developed the Montessori Method that was previously focused on children in the preschool. The method of learning placed much emphasis on active learning, independence and harmonious learning that considered the pace of the child’s unique development. Between 12 and 18 years, the child does not want to be bothered with much learning information. Finally, between 18 and 24 years, the individual acquires the cognitive and social skills necessary for making career choices.

The period is characterized by career exploration (Ludick, 2015). John Dewey John Dewey was an American psychologist and educator (Brinkman, 2017). Dewey explains that learning should have both the societal purpose and the purpose for the student (Tarrent and Thiele, 2016). They both believed that learning is the growth or the physical change that occurs in individuals and that it occurs through the determined interaction with the environment. However, the two theorists had some differences in belief. According to Montessori, education is a natural process since it develops unexpectedly in humans and the teachers only aids in the spontaneous process. Dewey, on the other hand, explained that education is growth and a continuous experience and that classroom education guides the growth of the child in the direction desired.

While Montessori believes that human beings are born with a divine spirit that shapes them, Dewey believes that there are no such spirits and that it is the society that shapes the child. Dewey believes that children ought to be allowed the freedom to do whatever they wanted with whatever was at hand. Montessori Method, on the other hand, is more restrictive and she believes that her materials are specifically designed for particular purposes. To sum it up, Dewey’s school is essential for building relationships and skillful thinking for real life. Students who use the system presented by Dewey are likely to be critical thinkers and likely to contribute their local communities and the society at large significantly. References Beane, J.