news - [nooz, nyooz] - 1382, plural of new (n.) "new thing," from new (adj.), q.v.; after Fr. nouvelles, used in Bible translations to render M.L. nova (neut. pl.) "news," lit. "new things." Sometimes still regarded as plural, 17c.-19c. Meaning "tidings" is 1423. - noun - 1. a report of a recent event; intelligence; information. 2. the presentation of a report on recent or new events in a newspaper or other periodical or on radio or television. 3. such reports taken collectively; information reported. 4. a person, thing, or event considered as a choice subject for journalistic treatment; newsworthy material.

Dr. Czaja's Notes

February 17 , 2010

Dear Families,

    All through my career as a gardener of children, visiting observers amazed at what they were witnessing within our Montessori learning environments would ask me: “What is the secret?” I understood their wonderment, for the life of learning that goes on within a well prepared Montessori learning environment is so very rare in the world of traditional schooling where most children exist as lifeless puppets – as pupils.  A Montessori school seems to these visitors to be a fantasy – like the story of the wooden Pinocchio who before the movie ends becomes a real, courageous, loving, flesh and blood boy.

    So, what is the secret of the “Montessori Way” that is so able to evoke real life? What is the magic formula that can transform what were once passive pupils into such energized life-learners?  As it is within the happy life of good gardeners who joy in seeing the miracle of plants actually growing out of seemingly dead seeds, the secret of human horticulture can be found in the lyrics of this old happy tune I once heard Bing Crosby sing ‘round about the same time I learned all about the story of Pinocchio:

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between.

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene.

    Let me explain it to you. Montessori educators are trained to recognize that human children are full of innate potentials that are very positive just waiting for us as the gardeners to evoke into life. But first we must weed out all that is negatively impeding their development and instead provide them with experiential learning opportunities that affirm their unique God given talents, interests, and aptitudes. Because we value aesthetic beauty and simplicity, we remove the clutter that distracts and gets in-between the pure elements fostering life-learning.

    When we succeed in this wondrous work we can actually see the abounding joy that is the glory of personal growthgoing on right there before our eyes. All gloom is just about gone.  How can we not have absolute faith in the destinies of the children placed in our care – WOW!

    Peace reigns within our communities of learning – all demons are prohibited for we crowd such out with lots of honest-to-goodness life. Our village of learning is like the valley of Shangri-La where the secret of true happiness was found to be in simply living lives of responsive kindness.

     Visitors who come in from the barren coldness of the outside cannot help but be amazed at the natural truth and goodness they see flourishing here with us. And there really is no secret about it; it is really the way we were all meant to be.

Peace,
Paul