Curious question--is this Montessori?

[staceychev]

Was talking with my sister about Montessori today, and she said, "Oh, I was talking to this woman who taught in a Montessori school, and I'd never send C. there." According to sis, this woman described children walking silently through halls with hands formally behind their back, and children not being allowed to speak unless spoken to by an adult.

Is this Montessori?? :

[Melda]

absolutly not .... if it is.... it is good example of people opening schools under the M name without following MM Philo.

[bananahands]

The Montessori school my two children attend uses a formal walking style like this whenever the kids are moving through the hallways or stairwells. It's set up to be more of a model than a reality, given the children's ages, and I think it can be very helpful because it provides them with a focus for their energy and attention.

I've never seen the don't-speak-unless-you're-spoken-to approach, however. That doesn't sound quite right.

[staceychev]

Makes me feel better, because I'm researching Montessori for DD when she turns 2-1/2 (as opposed to leaving her in her current daycare/preschool). The "don't speak unless you're spoken to" idea seems to really contradict what I understand to be the M philosophy of respecting the child as a human being.

thanks for your replies!