Last night I got the privilege of sitting in on a an amazing talk given by the upper elementary teacher at my daughter’s public Montessori charter school. I already love Montessori and feel so lucky that my children have the opportunity to experience this kind of schooling, but last night was possibly the most moving experience about why it is important for all ages of children, and even adults.
Our school currently houses ages K through sixth grade and since the beginning a middle school has been in the talking stages.
A few years ago Miss Susan, was hired as the upper elementary teacher (4-6) but what she is really here for is to open an Erdkinder for our little school.
Last night’s meeting was really a presentation about what an amazing opportunity we have here in our little school in the shape of Miss Susan, an experienced, motivated, and knowledgeable Erdkinder teacher.
If you remember junior high, and most of us have some pretty rough memories of that time, it is the most social time in your life. Socially awkward, socially difficult, socially isolating. You make a friend, you lose a friend, you change friends almost on a daily basis. You pick up a sport, you change your mind, you’re suddenly interested in a musical instrument, then it no longer seems appealing. You dress like a member of Nirvana, then you’re a little princess, a member of Kiss?? And through it all you are at odds with the folks who want to help you the most, your parents. The mother of three daughters, I live in fear of the days when my children reach this age.
Neurologically, and brilliant woman that she is Susan covered this last night, there is more neurological growth happening in these adolescent brains than at any other point in life, other than infancy. Although they appear to be in a confounding fog much of the time (i.e. grunting out half syllable answers) they are trying to figure out a lot about themselves, who they are, what they are going to do with this life they’ve been given. Sadly the growth period ends with a period of, as Susan so delicately put it, pruning (unused cell die-off). So, who they become at the end of this time is, very nearly, who they will be. Scary hu?
So, what is crazy scary to me about raising three children is that at a time when I want to control everything because I want to make sure they become the best they can be, I will have control over nothing. And that is where having a wonderful group of other adults, peers, even pets comes in. That is why we schlepp our kids from soccer, to dance, to swimming. We are giving our littles the chance to make connections with people other than their parents because some day they will need those folks and someday we will need them too, to make sure our children are safe and getting mentored by people who have their best interests at heart.
That being said, I am a little less frightened by the future knowing that there might be a place for my girls to find a home away from home when they need it most. Maria Montessori talked about children needing to be on the farm and work the earth during that age, and that is what an Erdkinder provides. A place for adolescence to be outside, working their changing bodies, building relationships, while learning the skills they will need in adulthood.
Last night’s meeting ended with a call to action for the parents of children at our little Community Roots Montessori. Over the next year they hope to open this amazing “homestead” school. I am so excited. I’m excited to watch it grow, to watch the children who will learn there, and to someday watch my own children have what I hope is an easier and more joyful time in adolescence there. I am thankful every day for the random chance that brought me to this tiny town and to our wonderful school that makes me excited for the future.
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