How are children disciplined in a Montessori programme?
Most visitors to a Montessori programme are amazed at how peaceful, pleasant and well behaved the children are. Montessori programmes are noted for the self-discipline of their children. The particularly interesting thing about this is that the method does not involve techniques of coercion or manipulation. The children do not think of their teachers as being strict or mean. Techniques of force or power are not used. Basically, what happens is that the children find their needs are being met. They like the teacher and the classroom. They sense the teacher cares about them and is a source of help. The teacher realizes that children want to be liked: they want to be accepted members of the group: no one wants to be a problem. Therefore, a child having difficulty needs help. The child simply needs to be shown in a positive way how to meet his needs. Though this process, non-acceptable behaviour lessens and finally disappears. This makes the classroom a very pleasant place for both the chi
