“Everyone has a special inclination or special secret, hidden vocation. It may be modest but it is certainly useful. An award can divert such a calling and turn one’s head to the loss of his true vocation.” (p.16, para.1)

Thoughts after reading 1. On the Application of Science to the School

Punishments and Rewards can be abused to make a child conform to rules.   Teachers and parents should not make demands on children as if they have unlimited authority. Instead we should guide the child, helping him find his own way to pursue his own innate talents and gifts. The problem with awards and punishments is they are externally driven. As adults, we may seek endless external rewards making decisions based on the external rewards that may be achieved. We may take a job that is less satisfying yet has a promising future even though our passions lay somewhere else. Wouldn’t we be happier if we were driven by the vocations that we were designed for?

In a Montessori setting, teachers encourage the child to find his passion and support them on their unique educational journey. Although they have to study required subjects there is the opportunity to go deeper into areas they are interested in and really develop their talents. The children learn to appreciate each other’s differences and recognize individual contributions to the community. Every child has something special to offer the world, as long as we do not pull them off their path.

Montessori, M. (1972). On the application of science to the school. In The discovery of the child (pp. 1-18). New York: Ballantine.