Peace & Social Justice
Inspiration and resources for building caring and empathic communities.
Humanity & Hope
Maria Montessori believed each generation of children brings renewed hope for a more peaceful world. But so often in our practice we make the mistake of isolating peace as a separate curricular area. As children move from respecting their physical space to respectful collaboration, from projecting their own desires for peace and social justice to leading that change, they will come to understand that conflict is an opportunity for growth and understand their own potential for leadership. This is the essence of Montessori, and can be found in the design of the materials, the prepared environment, and in their actions.
Deeper commitment to education for peace and social justice supports the attainment of basic human rights such as freedom, dignity, safety, equitable treatment, and a standard of living adequate for health and wellbeing.
By creating respectful, inclusive classrooms, celebrating diversity in all its forms, crossing cultural boundaries, and modeling engaged citizenry, Montessori educators nurture students who will transform the world and make it a better place for their generation and the generations that follow.
An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.
MARIA MONTESSORI
How can you support the efforts?
Support for Ukraine in the Montessori Community
Princeton Montessori School
In honor of Maria Montessori's unwavering commitment to peace, Princeton Montessori School (PMonts) was proud to raise and donate $40,000 to the Polish Montessori Institute to benefit Ukrainian refugees fleeing the humanitarian crisis in their war-torn homeland. This generous donation from the PMonts community will go directly towards efforts to help Ukrainian families and children, including allowing refugee children to access Montessori education and helping Ukrainian Montessori teachers meet the qualifications to teach in Poland.
PMonts has a long history of developing Montessori Schools in Ukraine. Through a previous project begun in collaboration with the school and its teacher training center, PMonts helped develop the Ukrainian Montessori model, schools, and a teacher training program. Through this initiative, started by PMonts former head of school and director of teacher training, Marsha Stencel, and Ginny Cusack, founder and former director of Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), PMonts formed strong relationships in Ukraine that continue to this day. Read more about the good work the school is doing with Ukraine.
We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.
MARIA MONTESSORI
Organizations Helping Support Ukraine
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. The IRC supports the evacuation of women and children by providing vital supplies to displaced children and families.
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders, an organization that provides independent, impartial medical humanitarian assistance, has greatly increased its presence in Ukraine and neighboring countries where more than 4.3 million refugees have fled. Doctors Without Borders is providing medical humanitarian assistance to people affected by the war in Ukraine by delivering urgent medical supplies, training health workers on managing mass casualty incidents, running mobile clinics, and organizing medical evacuations of hospitalized patients from the east to the west of the country.
Save the Children
Save the Children, a leading humanitarian organization for children, uses your donation to aid children on the move across Eastern Europe who are at risk of hunger, illness, trafficking, and abuse. The Children’s Emergency Fund provides children and families at risk in Ukraine and around the world with immediate aid, such as food, water kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance.