An education experience unique to Sydney’s Inner West
“The Montessori method takes advantage of children’s natural need and desire to learn.”
Recent Graduate
My name is Ella Maple and I was a student at the [Inner City] Montessori school. But I was not just a student. I felt like Montessori was my home, or rather my family. So leaving Montessori was a whole different story, but instead of leaving in sadness, I left with excitement of my new school.
The first time I came to I.G.S [International Grammar School] for an open day, I was amazed by the openness of the people and the general sense of freedom that I could sense in the locker-cludded corridors of the school.
Coming to I.G.S was a completely different thing though. When I started, there was a lot of talk between everyone about getting adjusted to this new environment, and how hard it could be, and the idea of homework and assignments, so many teachers, different classes, timetables, detentions. Anyone who has ever graduated from Montessori should remember the worry that there would be lack of preparation for “the transition” to high school. But here is the truth, right here from your dedicated reporter who is actually in the midst of the big uncovered secret, and here it is… there is no need to worry. There is no need to worry about “the transition.” There is no need to take kids from something so amazing and life sculpting and beautiful as Montessori just to make sure that the child can finish homework on time or listen in class. Because it just happens.
The Montessori philosophy is something that takes hours to explain, But some of the things that Montessori teaches you are to be responsible for your work and to have a love of learning. This motivation that backs up every Montessorian is something that stays with them for life. To live your life from the age of three learning this way and being nurtured this way you are not only eased into being like this, you become this. This Montessori spirit follows you into “the transition”.
So when I came to my new school, I found a great environment. Although very different to Montessori, I felt at home, and I loved the fact that there were lots of people, from preschool to year 12.
This year I have enjoyed myself amazingly. It took me a while to settle in, because of all the change and all, but in the classroom scene I had no trouble at all. Homework was no trouble, I just did it. When assignments came along I did my best, when tests were announced I studied. I felt that it would have been a huge pity if I didn’t have a Montessori education. Some of my friends don’t really enjoy working, and don’t enjoy learning much either, but I think that is because not all classes are as exciting sitting in front of a whiteboard. I think that is because they didn’t grow up with Montessori. However, I remember being at Montessori and talking about how if we were at a normal school we’d be a behind a whiteboard, but I’d like to say it’s not all like that at high schools, at least not at my school. Lately we’ve been doing some great things for English; we’ve been filming and editing our own movies. Learning can be really fun with all the great resources that are there to offer.
At Montessori I felt that I made lots of achievements with my friends and had a lot of fun, and the same has happened this year at IGS.
At the beginning of the year the school hosted the Arts Festival, which anyone could enter to compete for their house. I’ve always loved the arts, so I decided to go for it. I performed a monologue in the drama section for the school, wrote a short story for the literature section, wrote a poem for the poetry section and took a piece of photography for the photography section. It was a fun day, where everyone got to see everyone’s work and see all the performances with no lessons. At the end of the day we all sat in the hall for an assembly where the results of the judging would be made. It was amazing and I loved the people that won, including some people who sang English as their second language and it was really spectacular. The competitions were not in age groups, it was judged on the work, and I found myself first in all topics that I entered except my monologue, which I took 2nd for, but against a year 11 student! It was a great day and I had a lot of fun. My house won out of the two other houses. Other things I took part in this year were debating with Milly Cobb, who also went to Montessori last year, and recently the public speaking competition, where I finished first.
But life isn’t about winning, and neither has my year at high school. Overall I loved it, and would like to thank Montessori for the perfect type of preparation available, which stretches much further than the weak stretch of homework. Montessori is life, and it will guide you forever. And it should be like that for everyone.
Ella Maple, 13
Graduate 2002