Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori (Italian pronunciation: [maˈriːa montesˈsɔːri]; August 31, 1870 –

May 6, 1952) was an Italian physician and educator best known for the philosophy of education that
bears her name, and her writing on scientific pedagogy. At an early age, Montessori broke gender
barriers and expectations when she enrolled in classes at an all-boys technical school, with hopes of
becoming an engineer. She soon had a change of heart and began medical school at The University
of Rome, where she graduated – with honors – in 1896. She was a single mother. Her educational
method is in use today in many public and private schools throughout the world.

Birth and family[edit]

Italian 1000 Lire banknote (approx. 0.52 €) representing Maria Montessori.

Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. Her father, Alessandro Montessori, 33
years old at the time, was an official of the Ministry of Finance working in the local state-run tobacco
factory. Her mother, Renilde Stoppani, 25 years old, was well educated for the times and was the
great-niece of Italian geologist and paleontologist Antonio Stoppani.[1][2] While she did not have any
particular mentor, she was very close to her mother who readily encouraged her. She also had a
loving relationship with her father, although he disagreed with her choice to continue her education

Early education[edit]
The Montessori family moved to Florence in 1873 and then to Rome in 1875 because of her father's
work. Montessori entered a public elementary school at the age of 6 in 1876. Her early school record
was "not particularly noteworthy",[4] although she was awarded certificates for good behavior in the
1st grade and for "lavori donneschi", or "women's work", the next year.[5]