Discipline from Within (Montessori)
From Montepedia
In Montessori education, Discipline from Within refers to self-discipline, the ability of a child to control their own actions and make positive decisions about their behavior.[1] The order and discipline observed in a well-functioning Montessori classroom is not the result of external controls, rewards, or punishments imposed by the teacher, but rather emerges from within each child. This internal discipline is directly tied to the development of the will.
Montessori Quotes
- "Discipline must come through liberty... We do not consider an individual disciplined only when he has been rendered as artificially silent as a mute and as immovable as a paralytic. He is an individual annihilated, not disciplined."[2]
- "The liberty of the child should have as its limit the collective interest."[3]
Research and Critiques
- Pros: The approach of discipline from within fosters a child's intrinsic motivation, self-regulation, and decision-making skills. Research supports the benefits of this approach, with Montessori students often displaying high levels of self-control and responsibility.[4]
- Cons: Critics argue that this approach may not effectively support children who struggle with self-regulation or those who need more explicit behavioral guidance.[5]
Comparisons to Other Methods
Many traditional education models rely on external forms of discipline, such as rewards and punishments, in contrast to the Montessori method's emphasis on fostering self-discipline.[6]
See Also
References
- ↑ Montessori, M. (1949). The Absorbent Mind. Clio Press.
- ↑ Montessori, M. (1912). The Montessori Method. Frederick A. Stokes Company.
- ↑ Montessori, M. (1912). The Montessori Method. Frederick A. Stokes Company.
- ↑ Lillard, A. (2017). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Egan, K. (2002). Getting it wrong from the beginning: Our progressivist inheritance from Herbert Spencer, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget. Yale University Press.
- ↑ Mooney, C. (2013). Theories of Childhood, Second Edition: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget & Vygotsky. Redleaf Press.
