Is training changing to keep up with the ever-changing environment or do we stay with what we learned all those years ago, because the needs of the children are basically the same or are they?
A Montessori teacher’s work is to balance support of universal human characteristics with unique cultural aspects of the children’s community. Language and Practical Life activities at each stage of development are great examples of how we strive to achieve such balance. It is important for teachers (and teacher training) to continually analyse the relationship between universal characteristics, validated through the historic work of Montessori scientific pedagogy, and emergent needs and characteristics of a particular time and place. This analysis will guide decisions of when and how to adapt the Montessori environment to new cultural elements.
