By Nathan Hemminger
Montessori is a series of charter schools that spans across the nation. The foundation was founded by Maria Montessori, a physician who taught at the medical school at the University of Rome. The schools of Montessori use methods of teaching created by her. The methods are mainly based on a student’s individuality and specific learning style.
Senior Sarah Byrn attends Montessori school in New Albany. She has attended Montessori since eighth grade and loves it. Before Montessori she attended Highland Hills Middle School.
“I wanted to attend a school that specialized in the arts, and it wasn’t in my family’s budget to attend private school,” she said.
Byrn has, no rhyme intended, a passion for fashion, and Montessori seemed like the best place to practice her passion. There is no dress code at Montessori, and Byrn said the freedom helps her express her fashion sense.
She insisted Montessori is different from the average charter school. It lets her express her individuality in a way no public school could.
“The purpose of Montessori is to let a student specialize in something that they enjoy,” she said. “[Montessori] influenced a lot of individuality, because students came from all over.”
Another aspect of Montessori Byrn has come to love is the intimate relationships she has with her classmates and professors. She knows everyone in her class of 14 students by name and said she feels she can have a heart-to-heart conversation with any of her professors.
“I feel like I could call up any of my professors years after I graduated and have a genuine conversation with them without any awkwardness,” she said.
In addition to the atmosphere with her teachers, the grade levels are mixed together in certain classes, which Byrn said allows kids to mature at a much greater and faster level.
Each school day has a block of time set up for what is called “individual time,” which Byrn said is the equivalent of study hall. She said there are goals that have to be finished by the end of the week, rather than specific assignments. However, “finished” may be too strong of a word. Byrn said many students get extensions by modifying the goals in a way that better benefits them.
“I would say about 75 percent of the students in my class finish the goals by the deadline,” she said. This freedom benefits Byrn because it teaches her first-hand about time management.
One of the more embarrassing, although rewarding, experiences of Montessori is the three day long introduction camp. All the students of Montessori attend this camp before the school year starts. Everyone must participate in all of the activities, including the talent show and the singing of the Montessori song. Also, no bathing is permitted during this trip.
“It allows everybody to see you the way you are, basically a hot mess,” she said.
Although Byrn said she thinks Montessori is great, she admitted there are aspects of public school she misses. There is not enough money at Montessori to fund the programs found in most public schools. Also, Byrn misses seeing new faces around campus like she did at HHMS.
Despite these factors, she still sees Montessori as the place she is meant to be; at least until she graduates, which she believes Montessori has greatly prepared her for.
“I feel a lot more prepared for college than I would at a public school,” she said. “My favorite thing about community Montessori is how much it encourages you to become an individual and pursue what you are passionate about.”