Archive for March 2010
Here’s a sneak preview of my visit to Abintra Montessori School in Nashville, Tennessee. Abintra is located in West Tennesee on a ten-acre campus. The school serves 150 children ages 3 to 15, from Primary to Middle School.
My interviews focused on finding out more about Abintra’s school song, “From Within.” The song was written by Upper Elementary students in 2006. You can hear the song and watch its music video on Abintra’s Facebook page. This song is a true expression of the peace and respect that are built into the Montessori approach. These elementary students were able to recognize and write about the community values that make their school a unique and positive place to learn. The project is a demonstration of the collaboration and creativity that are possible in a peaceful, community environment.
For teachers, parents or students who are interested in learning more about “the making of the video”, look for the full We the Peacemakers video out in May!
A Sunday drive took me across the state of Tennessee, from Knoxville all the way to Henderson, TN. I spent Monday and Tuesday mornings at Parkview Montessori Magnet School, in Jackson, Tennessee. Parkview is a public school serving students in Preschool through Grade 8 from Jackson-Madison County School System. Students enter the school by applying through a lottery system.
The motto at Parkview is “Peaceful Children, Peaceful School, Peaceful World.” This influence of the school motto is demonstrated throughout environment and in the interactions between students and teachers. The external environment features a peace garden where students plant and build. A peace pole greets students and guests who pass through the main entrance doors. Inside, the hallways are filled with student artwork, as well as educational exhibits about the Montessori philosophy. I visited classrooms that had a familiar hum of students actively engaged with materials.
On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to speak with middle school students from Peggy Smith’s classroom about Parkview’s approach to peace. These 7th and 8th graders held small group Socratic dialogues to discuss their understanding of peace and the impact of Montessori schooling on their lives. The students also shared about a unique project to study about Nobel Peace Prize winners. What an articulate and caring group of young people! I was excited to be able to interview Ms. Smith and School Principal Melinda Harris, as well.
We the Peacemakers: How Montessori Makes Peace 