MONTESSORI SCHOOL THE FIRST IN UKRAINE

One of the most distinctive systems of education in the world of pedagogical practice is the method taught by Italian pedagogue, physician, philosopher and anthropologist,

Maria Montessori (1870-1952), which has already been working successfully for 90 years in schools in almost all the democratic countries of the world.

    In September 1992, the humanitarian pedagogy of Maria Montessori had its beginning in Kyiv in the first Montessori school in the free Ukraine. This unique school system has the capability to give an uninterrupted education for children from 2 to 10 years of age.

   The combination of programs and curricula, the flexibility of study plans, specialist teaching staff, cozy halls and study rooms in this school help to create proper conditions for teaching children in an atmosphere of freedom.

   It was not our purpose to create just another Montessori School, as they exist in Holland, Germany, USA and other countries, but we have developed our own Ukrainian model of a Montessori School adapted to the needs of our society, our culture, customs and traditions of our people.

  Our methods of teaching, philosophy and curriculum play an important role in building a remarkably strong community that is common to every Montessori school all over the world and which distinguishes us from other schools.

  No matter in which Montessori school or in which country the school is located, one notices good behavior, kindness, raised spirits, and a feeling of self-assurance in the pupils and in the teachers. Within the Montessori environment, a child feels amazingly at ease and unimpeded. The children enjoy this freedom and know how to use it wisely: every day they make their own personal decisions and are able to motivate themselves; and most importantly, the children enjoy a sense of wanting to learn.

  The leader of the project “The Rebirth of the Humanities Pedagogy of Maria Montessori” in Ukraine is Boris Jebrovski, chairman of the main Board of Public Education in Kyiv; and it was really his idea to open a Montessori school for Ukrainian pupils.

  Excellent support was provided for opening our school, and continues to be provided for its day-to-day functioning by the head of the Darnytsya Regional Administration, Valeri Kyryan.

  Very creative and dedicated teachers work in our Kyiv Montessori School today. Seven teachers have received diplomas from the American Montessori Society. The founders of the school and its principal completed diplomas for the administration of Montessori schools.

  The appropriate educational base has been established at the Kyiv Montessori School. Every day the pupils work with the Montessori didactic materials from the world-renowned company Nienhuis. We are fortunate enough to own some Macintosh Computers in our Computer Classroom. Choreography, music, and physical education facilities as well as the art rooms permit the children to develop their talents creatively.

  During the relatively brief period of our school's existence, the teaching staff have conducted ten international seminars. Fifteen Ukrainian regions have started using the Montessori method in some of their schools, and the Montessori Teachers Association of Ukraine has been formed. In addition, our school is a member of the International Montessori Association (which is based in the Netherlands), and a member of the American Montessori Society. School instructional curricula have been developed and adapted. Our school is the pilot Montessori school in Ukraine, while very detailed work is being conducted to form a Ukrainian Center for Montessori Pedagogy.

  Such work would have been impossible without the participation, understanding, cooperation and assistance of parents — nor would anything have been achieved without the help of our colleagues in the Netherlands and in the United States. In 1999, our school started cooperation with the Montessori Society of Italy.

  Within the history book that describes the years of our school, the pages shine brightly with the Montessori teacher from Holland, Elizabeth van Santen, who comes to Kyiv every year to help our teachers attain professional knowledge and a high pedagogical mastery, and conscientiously works with our pupils and parents. It was Elizabeth van Santen in particular that established the friendly ties with the well-known company Nienhuis, which prepares Montessori materials.

  Anita Ream, an American who for many years has been working with Ukrainians, has created very close ties with the well-known teaching center in Princeton and the Princeton Montessori School. Professor Nancy Rambush of Newark University, founder of the first Montessori school in America, the first American teaching center, as well as the American Montessori Association, agreed to work on a joint project for the creation of a Ukrainian model school. It is because of her understanding and support that we have enthusiastically managed to prepare teachers on the basis of the Princeton Teaching Center. Marsha Stensel, Director of the Princeton Montessori School, Ginny Cusack, Director of the Montessori Center, Joyce Tetch, teacher at the Princeton Montessori School, Rita Brener, as well as others continue this work.

  Inasmuch as education has been designated a priority for the internal policy of our country, it is our sincere hope and desire that the conscientious work of the Kyiv Montessori School teachers will make it possible to give every child a world-class education.

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