I’m glad you’re finding that work helpful – it’s one of my favorite works of Montessori. The quote you chose is one I’ve gone back to many times. The universe story is more than a way of generating interest, though it certainly does that. Rather, it generates the kind of deep contemplation and fascination that leads to profound…[Read more]

There’s more I want to say…my reaction to your last post was reflexive, and I’ve thought a lot about it since I commented this morning. The truth is, your perspective matters to me, and it deserves to be heard. It needs to be heard, especially those of us in America who denounce the heinous acts that some of our soldiers have…[Read more]

Unfortunately, it seems that our conversation has taken a turn, and I regret that it seems we cannot have a productive dialogue. I am not angry with you, please know that, but calling me a murderer is deeply offensive and reveals an underlying lack of respect for me as a human being independent of the decisions my country has made and is…[Read more]

Thank you for clarifying your position. I totally agree that I live in the lap of luxury, far removed from the unimaginable reality that you have witnessed and lived through yourself. While that may discredit my philosophy to some extent, I think it benefits me to the extent that I can view the situation with some perspective. Just as…[Read more]

You speak of analyzing events with an unprejudiced view, and yet you characterize America as the aggressor (the cat in your analogy) and extremist/terrorist groups as the victim (the purely reflexive mouse)…herein lies your contradiction, which does in fact “hinder [your attempt] to find & eliminate the root cause of this cycle of…[Read more]

I encourage you to read some of Montessori’s work because it will allay your concerns about a Montessori teacher viewing a different cultural belief as dysfunctional. Of course, there will, in any institution, be people who don’t hold themselves to the exacting standards of that institution, but to truly qualify as a Montessori teacher…[Read more]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond so thoughtfully to my article. I also see that you signed up for my webinar! Thanks for that, too.

Your concern about the limitations of a peaceful cosmic curriculum within a larger world of economic, political, and social injustice gets right to the heart of the matter.…[Read more]

Thank you for your response. It’s always nice to hear feedback, especially from people outside of Montessori. Regarding your comment that you’d love to see Big History for elementary, it’s my opinion that Montessori has already done the groundbreaking work – long before Big History – for this plane of development with Cosmic Education.…[Read more]

Thank you for your comment! I have to say that the “connective tissue” metaphor is David Christian’s, so I can’t claim any creative responsibility for that. However, I find it to be an extremely accurate image to convey the purpose of Big History. I will soon be posting a link to the video in which David Christian uses that very…[Read more]

I can’t imagine how swamped you must be, so I’ll just tantalize you with an excerpt from Montessori’s “Keys to the World” below. However, if I had to recommend one work of hers to you, it would be To Educate the Human Potential. This is a short book (85 pages), but it is dense, and it explores the philosophy and practice of Cosmic…[Read more]