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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Celebrating sixty years in montessori training by Indira Perera Dahanayake
Child training is part of childcare. This was made obvious when I watched little ones at the montessori training centre at St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo, the only centre attached to the Association of Montessori International in Sri Lanka. There was absolute silence, where each child was engrossed in his/her work, some carefully assembling a paper model, unaided by a teacher. Some were seated on the ground-while working. After their work was over each child put back his paper model pieces in the open shelves allotted to him. The same attitude was maintained at the lunch room too. No noise !, no spilling of food particles. After their lunch they placed the little chair back in its proper place. Back at the office Rev. Sister Stanislaus Vaas says: Being a montessori teacher is a devine task one may call it! Indeed it has been the guiding star for many millions of children who have been through its training in the correct path. Introduced by Dr. Maria Montessori from Italy in 1944, it has guided millions of children to relieve their problems through the patience and understanding of a montessori teacher. To understand the problems of her child is an achievement for every mother and if she has followed a course in the montessori method it will undoubtedly be a very easy task for her. A very special tribute should be made to Selina Joyce Goonesekera who had her training directly under Dr. Maria Montessori and later introduced the method to Sri Lanka. Breaking all traditions Goonesekera sailed to Adayar, India in 1942 to attend a training course conducted by Dr. Montessori. The brand "new directress" returned to Sri Lanka with Dr. Montessori and her son in 1944 to set up the first montessori course held at the Good Shepherd Convent, Kotehena. Subsequently the first montessori house of children and the first training centre was relocated at St. Bridgets Convent. Deshabandu Joyce Goonesekera has done a great service through the training of montessori teachers in moulding the lives of many millions of children in years to come. "The child is the eternal messiah continually descending among fallen men to lead them to the kingdom of heaven". |
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