The Huffington Post – Terry N. Ford
“I’m often asked what works in education. After starting and leading public schools in Texas for nearly four decades, my response is straightforward: Start young, involve parents, empower children in their own development and be patient in fostering their eventual success. Great education starts with early learning, sets high expectations for children and educators and provides a structure to develop the full range of each child’s intellectual, social and emotional skills. It meets children where they are, leverages their desire to learn, and surrounds each child with the support they need to reach their potential. It takes place in mixed-aged classrooms, with student-centric learning, uninterrupted work periods and teachers who serve as guides, not as authority figures. Most importantly, parents are active partners in this growth experience, not just overseers of the homework club. Many years ago I joined with parents and other educators to make this vision real for children in a low-income neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. We were determined to bring the best of private schooling to children who had the least chance of accessing top quality education. We chose Montessori because it has over 100 years of success in transforming the lives of children from all walks of life.”(more)