Maria Montessori (1870-1952). Women's emancipation, pedagogy and extra verbal communication.
Author
Cascella, Marco; National Cancer Institute. Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
Abstract
Maria Montessori is one of the most well-known women in Italian history. Although she was the first woman who graduated in medicine in Italy, she is mostly known as an educator. Her teaching method - the Montessori Method - is still used worldwide. Because she could not speak English during the imprisonment in India, there was a big obstacle for her communication with children. However, the need to adopt a non-verbal communication, led her to a sensational discovery: children use an innate and universal language. This language, made of gestures and mimic, is called “extra verbal communication".