Abstract
This paper examines how Montessori's idea of “New Women”, held prior to “The Children House”, had an influence on her subsequent concept of education.
After graduation from Rome University, the feminist Montessori tried to demonstrate social inequalities between men and women statistically and scientifically. However, after the birth of her son, Mario, her feministic attitude as well as her idea of women underwent a change. From then on she argued that “New Women” must be equipped with the scientific methods of childcare. The idea of “New Women” led Montessori to set up “The Children House” for the training of “New Women.”
Her idea of “New Women” was based on the image of mother's womb which supplied an embryo with love and nutrition. Similarly, in Montessori's educational thought, the image of mother's womb underlay the concepts of “Environment” and of “Spiritual embryo.” “Environment” corresponded to the mother's womb, “Spiritual embryo”, to the embryo.
This paper shows the relationship of Montessori's thoughts before and after “The Children House”, along with the relationship of her idea of women and her educational thought.
