Dr. Maria Montessori – First Wave
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was Italy’s first female physician and a children’s education pioneer. Montessori endured years of male hostility to finally graduate in 1896 with high honors from the University of Rome. Her work with disabled children informed her innovative approach to learning, which emphasized individuality and autonomy, sensory exploration and task-oriented play. Montessori …