A Study on the Process of Normalizing Children in Montessori's Education

몬테소리교육(敎育)에서 아동(兒童)의 정상화과정(正常化過程)에 관한 고찰(考察)

In this article we reviewed the phenomena and processes of normalizing children through documentary records with interest in the aim of Montessori's education methods. The Montessori education method is based on the theory that all children should be respected and their works prized. The normalization of children does not mean only to turn abnormal children into normal ones, but to make normal characteristics - calmness, self-confidence, happiness or patience, etc.- which are latent in themselves, appear on the surface and remold them as new children. To achieve normalization some prerequisites are necessary. They are as follows: 1) The principle of freedom. The freedom in Montessori's education has some limits in prepared environments suitable for developing children as whole persons through their spontaneous activities. 2) Development of the phenomenon of children's attention. Arousal of their attention in the children's primitive inner impulse and sense of spiritual hunger. To satisfy their hunger children divert their interest to certain objects and come to repeated exercise of intelligence. 3) Concentration and repetitive phenomena. Repetition through children's concentration phenomenon is a natural and important fundamental behavior which controls their mental power. Repetitive behavior will form serious discipline and promote development of their intelligence.