The R.T.I. Montessori Training Course could once again celebrate the Graduation of their students into the Montessori world and welcome them to the Montessori Community. This was the 25th Course to be conducted at Sir Ratan Tata Institute under the experienced guidance and teaching of Ms. Zarin Malva. We bring to you the thoughts of a student Ms. Neha Jain who was a part of this journey.
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle – St. Francis of Assisi..
That light is the child who is working and making progress dispelling the darkness that he endures and confronts everyday..
As adults we are inclined to think that all of the worries rest on our shoulders and the child is carefree and he has no challenges. How untrue is that?
Have we as adults ever thought that the child is moving forward fighting prejudices, comparisons, intellectual pressures all around him.
Before I stepped into the Montessori approach I saw a child as a child growing as an adult physically. The Montessori method changed my perception and taught me that it is the child who develops his personality and it is a constant process allowing him to work at his own pace nurturing him to freedom, independence, coordination, concentration and order.
Think about it, the mundane work of an adult from cutting, chopping, washing, dressing becomes such an exciting work to the child. What we take for routine chores becomes a source of joy for the child.
Moreover I loved the word “directress” moving away from the traditional word of “teacher”. As she rightly said, the real preparation for education is the study of oneself. The training of a teacher who is to help life is something far more than the learning ideas. It includes the training of the character; it is the preparation of the spirit” The Absorbent Mind-Maria Montessori. She is the link, the observer, the guide to the child.
While embarking and sailing through the choppy and sometimes still waters of the course we students were so eagerly looking forward to the graduation day.
In the ceremony it was so aptly said by Ms. Teenaz Reporter “we are part of the AMI global family”; a family that is ever expanding thru children, parents, directress, our trainers and our energetic and spirited Ms. Zarin Malva. She steers us through it, challenging our thoughts, ideas and awakening the dormant adult to bring the best of each and every student.
We, her children, spread across globally like the essence of a perfume. So thankful to her and all our trainers who work diligently to extract the best in us.
We cannot fathom or comprehend the beauty that this course offers. It is only when we see it all coming alive in the work of a child it leads us to an inner satisfaction of being that candle in a child’s life.
I conclude with another quote of Dr. Maria Montessori…”the child builds the man” and it makes perfect sense. When we build his life with love and give him dignity so will he be the coming of the man in the fourth plane contributing to the society of what he acquired through all the other planes.
