THE DIRECTRESS
The name that Maria Montessori gave her teachers was actually “directress”. She believed that the adult’s
purpose was to direct the child on his quest to self-understanding and development. He/she is also
referred to as a guide or facilitator.
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She observes the child at work to determine where he is in his development and guides him to
appropriate lessons and activities.
- She observes the child in his environment to ensure that the environment continues to serve its
purpose to aid the development of the child.
- She observes the child in his interactions with others to determine his social and emotional needs.
Many struggle to comprehend what is going on when they first enter a classroom and see the directress
seated with one child while the other children are either concentrating on a task or moving about. The
established ground rules, the children themselves and a competent assistant all work together to maintain
the peace and calm in the environment.
In the words of Dr. Montessori:
"In brief, the teacher's principal duty in the school may be described as follows: She should explain the use
of the material. She is the main connecting link between the material, that is the objects, and the child.
This is a simple, modest duty, and yet it is much more delicate than that found in the older schools, where
the material simply helps the children to understand the mind of the teacher, who must pass on her own
ideas to a child, who must in turn receive them."
- Discovery of the Child, Dr. Maria Montessori
