Life is a series of new beginnings. We are always proceeding through life focused on one goal. Therefore Graduation ceremonies are important to all as they have inspirational and sentimental value.
This function included students, faculty, staff, administrators and the community. On the dais we had Mrs. Hilla Patell our chief guest and external examiner along with our mentor Ms. Zarin Malva, Ms. Acharia, Mrs. Sunita Madnani and Mrs. Neelima Mhaskar
We began with a prayer song by a fellow student, followed by our distinguished chief guest Mrs Patell lighting the Diya and commencing the ceremony.
Ms. Zarin Malva than gave a welcome speech for Mrs. Hilla Patell.
Mrs. Patell shared valuable and interesting perspective of Montessori Method of aiding education
This journey into the child’s world had left us all with unforgettable experiences. Individually, all experiences here were unique, but together we all shared a common bond as Montessorians. We all believed as Dr Maria Montessori says “the child is both a hope and promise for mankind.” Thus, lay in our hands the task of not just preparing them for school but for life. Journeys shared by few fellow students prominently reflected this belief and bond.
Then Ms. Malva concluded the ceremony by thanking her team and congratulating class of 2015.Mrs Hilla Patell and Ms. Malva presented students with their well deserved diplomas.
The ceremony ended with a Vote of thanks by a fellow student, initiating a new chapter in all our lives. A day to be remembered.
My congratulations to all of you, not just for gaining your Diploma but for the effort, the dedication and the commitment that each of you has put in during these past months. And we must not forget your families and loved ones who have supported you efforts during this time.
The end of a Course is a new beginning – today you become part of a large International family.
A family which is made up of people from many parts of the world, from many different cultures from many different walks of life.
As a member of this same family I extend to each of you a warm welcome to the Association Montessori Internationale
All those who are drawn to Montessori work have been influenced in some measure by the vision of Maria Montessori and her concern for human life as it develops from birth to maturity.
Dr. Montessori saw the child as much more than someone who simply has to be entertained and taught in the best possible way.
She saw the child as:
THE BUILDER OF THE FUTURE
The link between one generation and the next
She believed that if each individual could be helped to develop his or her fullest potential, then the result of such and EDUCATION would be reflected on a wider scale through a more peaceful and harmonious world.
We live in challenging and complex times.
Perhaps one way of making a positive contribution within our society in these days is by working with children (the future generation) and
Those who are able to work with very young children are especially privileged since they can have a real and lasting effect on a child’s life [“To teach is to touch a life forever”)
Participating in a Montessori Course each of you has expressed an interest in following the path that Dr. Montessori pointed to.
To the extent in which we understand her principles and philosophy to that extent are we be able to put Montessori’s ideas into practice
I would like to suggest that you spend some time each week thinking about and reflecting upon the knowledge and understanding of Maria Montessori’s philosophy that you have received throughout the Course from Zarin and her staff, but it will only be through your work with the children that you will begin to understand and discover/discern not only the depth that lies behind Montessori’s thinking but also the Breadth of her vision.
In that respect your work with the children will have tremendous significance as you begin to understand and consider your work as educators from a much wider perspective.
“The education that will lead to a new humanity has one end alone.
Leading the individual and society to a higher stage of development.
This concept involves many factors and may seem obscure, but it becomes clearer if we realize that
MANKIND HAS A COLLECTIVE MISSION ON EARTH.
A MISSION INVOLVING ALL OF HUMANITY AND THEREFORE EACH AND EVERY HUMAN BEING”
I wish you all well in your future endeavors and know that even though the work may be hard sometimes it will bring with it much fulfillment – GOOD LUCK.
Mrs. Hilla Patell
2015 Cohort
RTI Montessori Training Centre, Mumbai
The Brain – is wider than the Sky –
For – put them side by side –
The one the other will contain
With ease – and You – beside
The Brain is deeper than the sea –
For – hold them – Blue to Blue –
The one the other will absorb –
As Sponges – Buckets – do –
The Brain is just the weight of God –
For – Heft them – Pound for Pound –
And they will differ – if they do –
As Syllable from Sound –
Emily Dickinson in her poem resonates in sentiment with the Montessori Method. Dr Montessori saw something wonderful within children, an element so special that it could be the key to changing the world. Through her observations she saw the inherent good in children, and when given the opportunity to develop freely, children connected to everything and were naturally caring to each other and the world around them. During her time working with children, Dr. Montessori grew convinced they developed and achieved optimal potential under intuitive guides and that the main work of an adult was enable the child reach their natural goal. She felt that the spiritual nature of children had been forgotten and denied fulfillment; and adults ought to learn from children the means to return to a more meaningful, holistic way of life.
Dr Montessori laid emphasis on allowing children freedom to work alone and develop concentration. She observed that it was precisely when children were allowed to work in complete freedom with respect to others that they displayed an immense love and care towards the environment and their peers. She saw that children absorbed and imbibed the world around and that innate discipline and harmony was something that came from within the child itself and not something that could be enforced.
Dr Montessori showed us how children undergo extraordinary transformations in overall demeanor, personality, character and self-discipline when allowed to develop according to their individual rhythms. She observed the work of a child fundamentally different to that of the adult: the child worked for the joy and satisfaction of the process involved in the exercise rather than the end result, the child’s need to repeat activities and perfect self, and that a child involved in exercise was excited and energized through work. She felt that children only fought their love to learn when forced to work against their natural impulses.
Through the Montessori Method children are allowed freedom, encouraged to question and probe matter deeply, to make connections as self-directed learners, become confident, enthusiastic, joyful and peaceful. They are able to think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly— and moreover be kind, generous, caring and loving.
Sulaikha D’souza
2015 Cohort
RTI Montessori Training Centre, Mumbai
Today I stand here with mixed emotions. On one hand I am glad that I have finally completed this course, but at the same time a bit sad that our time together has come to an end. When I enrolled for this course last year, I was quite confident that my own experience and understanding of children, being a mother of two would help me. However i learnt much more under the guidance of Ms. Zarin Malva than I could ever imagine.
One of the most important learning for me as an individual has been the realization that children don’t need teachers to teach them anything. They are born with an amazing ability to absorb, learn and create. All they need is the right environment. For all of us here our greatest joy is in the fact that we have the opportunity to play a role in helping the child unfold into the unique person he or she is meant to be by giving him our love selflessly and providing an environment that fosters development through self-discovery.
As Dr. Montessori says: The child should live in an environment of beauty.
Jyoti Lobo
2015 Cohort
RTI Montessori Training Centre, Mumbai
