Literary, Instruction Methods 

An audience already thoroughly interested awaits this translation of a remarkable book For years no educational document has been so eagerly expected by so large a public and not many have better merited general anticipation That this widespread interest exists is due to the enthusiastic and ingenious articles in McClure s Magazine for May and December 1911 and January 1912 but before the first of these articles appeared a number of English and American teachers had given careful study to Dr Montessori s work and had found it novel and important The astonishing welcome accorded to the first popular expositions of the Montessori system may mean much or little for its future in England and America it is rather the earlier approval of a few trained teachers and professional students that commends it to the educational workers who must ultimately decide upon its value interpret its technicalities to the country at large and adapt it to English and American conditions To them as well as to the general public this brief critical Introduction is addressed It is wholly within the bounds of safe judgment to call Dr Montessori s work remarkable novel and important It is remarkable if for no other reason because it represents the constructive effort of a woman We have no other example of an educational system original at least in its systematic wholeness and in its practical application worked out and inaugurated by the feminine mind and hand It is remarkable also because it springs from a combination of womanly sympathy and intuition broad social outlook scientific training intensive and long continued study of educational problems and to crown all varied and unusual experience as a teacher and educational leader No other woman who has dealt with Dr Montessori s problem the education of young children has brought to it personal resources so richly diverse as hers These resources furthermore she has devoted to her work with an enthusiasm an - from Amzon