Discipline And Obedience In Montessori: A Comparative Analysis

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In modern times, discipline and obedience (Montessori, 2007b) seem to be amongst the most debatably subjects. Are these aspects to be opposed upon the child or are they powers to be born within the child its self? Through this essay we attempt to define discipline and obedience from both a general and Montessori perspective. We shall look into the importance of the favourable environment (Montessori, 1966) and how this supports the development of the child’s will and discipline (Montessori, 2004). Furthermore, we will consider how the development of discipline links to the development of the will and creates the foundation for the development of obedience. Lastly we will look into the three levels of obedience (Montessori, 2007a) and explore how these relate to the spiritual and social embryonic stages (MCI, 2013a). According to the Oxford Learners dictionary (2015a) discipline is considered a method of training someone to follow rules and punish them if they do not. On the other hand obedience (Oxford Learners Dictionary, 2015b) is described as the act of doing what you are told to do without questioning it. Opposed to these, …show more content…

These activities can be found in what Montessori (1966) called, the prepared environment which consists of equipment and activities proportioned to the child’s size (Montessori, 2007b). In the Montessori environment, the child engages in purposeful, real life activities that answer to his/her inner calls of development such as his/her sensitive periods (Montessori, 2007a). Driven by an internal force to master an activity or trait, the child forms him/herself and develops his/her concentration. It is this concentration placed on the child’s work that scaffolds the development of his/her will and internal discipline. “The first glimmerings of discipline have their origin in work” (Montessori, 2007b,

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