4 key figures on Montessori pedagogy in France

A concept everyone has heard of at least once, but only few concretely know the meaning, is the Montessori method. It always remained mysterious and intriguing – especially since celebrities such as Sergei Brin, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates were once pupils in a Montessori classroom. This revolutionary method born under the initiative of Maria Montessori has now become one of the most developed alternative ways of teaching. 

Ms. Montessori was the first woman being a doctor in Italy in the end of the 19^th century. Her project started with a school designed for mentally disabled children: carefully observing their behaviour and identifying their needs, she created tools to stimulate their concentration and help them gain self confidence.

As her efforts with these disabled children showed positive results, Montessori invented a radically different approach to regular children’s ways of learning. The main principle is that a child should not only be interiorizing knowledge, but also be pro-active in the process of learning and have the opportunity to express himself. It emphasizes on the importance of self-development in various spheres, not neglecting the physical or emotional aspects in order to focus on the intellectual one. Montessori teachers pay a special attention to children’s freedom of choice and give them time to discover their areas of personal interest. The core value is respect of the individuality of each child, which can be materialized by less formal constraints regarding their behaviour.

However, while it is quite a widespread method in certain Landers in Germany (such as Bavaria), in France it remains marginal and not really discussed in the media. Here are several figures, exploring the specificities of Montessori education in France, and that will hopefully enable the reader to better understand the stakes and the purposes of these methods.

12 years

It is the recommended age until which children can follow a Montessori system. Their education can be started at the age of 3 or even after; instead of the 12 grade scale applied in the classic French schools, it divides the education process into several stages from 3 to 6 years old, then 6 to 9 and finally from 9 to 12.  However, experts note that the adaptation will be more difficult for those who have experienced the classic system prior entering the Montessori one.

On the contrary, students from a Montessori system wishing to join the conventional educational system encounter no specific trouble, as they are autonomous and have already developed a sense of responsibility.

200 schools

It is the information provided by the French Montessori Association, which warns about the fact these schools shall have certified materials (such as wooden pencils, weights, colored shapes) and approved teachers. Moreover, only the schools that have signed the official Charter of French Montessori Institutions can be officially recognized as such, and use the logo of the association: there are 14 schools that have signed it today.  

It is interesting to note a misbalance in the location of these schools. Most of them are either close to metropolitan areas (essentially in the Parisian region) or in the South of the country. This sheds light on the inequalities of access to Montessori schools, as there are none in the East of France. The long waiting lists and the prohibitive costs represented by these types of schools are definitely not an incentive for parents to favour them instead of public ones.   

26 451 students

It is the number of students who were attending Montessori Schools in France in 2017. This represents 43% from all the alternative schools (including Freinet and Steiner Waldorf ones): at a national scale, it corresponds to 0,96 % of the total number of students which is 12 891 350 according to Ministry of Education data.

This shows a limited recognition of the advantages of Montessori methods among the French public opinion, where discipline and objectively evaluated performance still prevail upon the importance of creating adapted environments for studying.

5150 euros

It is the average annual fee paid for a Montessori education. Compared to the French public schools – that are free – it represents a cost parents often can’t afford. This high amount is linked to the absence of subsidies from the Ministry of Education to Montessori schools, that other private schools recognized by the Ministry can benefit from.

These fees are even higher than the regular private schools, where the average cost is estimated at 650 euros (DEPP statistics) per student. Finally, if we consider the amount represented by one student in high school, and supported by taxpayers, it is around 6000 euros in France according to OECD 2013 data, showing that this cost is among the highest ones in Europe.

This trend might unfortunately be seen as contradictory to Ms. Montessori’s initial aspirations, as she wrote about a system of “popular education” that would be accessible to the great majority of children.