The most loving, insightful, dedicated people I’ve ever met are Montessori educators. Together they hold a hope for the future grounded in the very real possibility of education that supports children so deeply that they will tap new reserves of creativity and generosity. They believe that serving the children in this way is the path to peace. Though they are human, and have their flaws just as everyone does, they are collectively amazing. And I am deeply worried about losing them. They are getting burned out and, for some, their physical health is suffering.
With few exceptions, the Montessori classroom educators and administrators I’ve been working with and communicating with the last few years are frequently tired and often exhausted. This has to change. We need to work together as a community to find ways to make the work load more manageable and to educate our colleagues about the absolute necessity of taking time to care for themselves and their relationships. This will not be easy because Montessori education is demanding in many ways. It is, however, doable. Together we can figure it out and spread the word. The first segment of this week’s episode of our show is devoted to sharing the strategies I learned for accomplishing this goal. They are the results of the first portion of a two-part research project I am doing and were part of my master’s program project at St. Catherine University. If you have additional insights, please share them. This is one of the greatest needs in the Montessori community right now.