11+
Daniela Palumbo
The Montessori’s Revolution (Novel)
Synopsis Maria Montessori was born in 1870, a time when the world of arts, science, education and medicine was in the hands of men. At that time Maria decided she wanted to become a doctor and fought with her family and with the universities who did not allow her to enroll. Then, become an affirmed scientist, she decided to change course and decided to give voice to the world of children. So the adventure of the Houses of Children - set up in the poorest neighborhoods of Rome to save children of the poorest classes - begins. The houses will soon become an educational reference point that will surpass the Italian borders: the birth of the Montessori Method based on the right of children to be loved, to express themselves freely and to be respected. This book tells the human story of a scientificpedagogical revolution. Maria was in fact an unconventional woman for the time also on a personal level: she lived with a man without marrying him and gave him a son. When he did not accept the baby she decided to keep it on her own, abandoning her partner. At the beginning she entrusted the child to a foster house, which was for her cause of deep suffering. But she continued to stand by him, and when he was a teenager Maria told him the truth. And he loved his mother with a boundless love and continued to be always close to her, until the end of her days.
Excerpt “So, you wanted to know when school starts: in two weeks exactly. Will you come?” The smile faded from his eyes as he walked to the exit: “No, I do not... I do not have time, and then why should I come, I know what I need...” “Like pretending to be dumb and begging on the street?” I said maliciously, expecting his strong reaction. That did not come. “Yes, that’s what I have to do, teacher.” And he went away leaving me again the same bitterness of our first meeting. “Do you know why he does not come to school? And why he’s begging, Engineer?” “Rino has unfortunately not a father, and his mother only has precarious jobs, but alone she can not get by. She is not a bad lady, Miss Montessori, believe me. But poverty led her to give Rino a lot more responsibilities than a child can bear.” “I want him at school. I can not stand the idea that such a smart child wastes his time on the street. Tell me who his mother is, I want to speak to her.”
Rights Sold: Italy, South Korea Extent: 128 – Illustrations not available Target Group: 11+ About: Women and Children Rights, Discrimination, History For any further information: FIND OUT Team Srl, Novara, Italy Email: rights@findout-team.com