Near North Montessori: Upper School
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Third Plane of Development: 12-18 Years
"Education is not what the teacher gives. Education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences upon the environment…"
At Near North Montessori, the 12 to 14 class acts on a principle long established in the earlier years: that the education a child takes part in reflects the characteristics and needs of his or her age group. With young adolescents, several characteristics come to the fore. They include: a social nature that is also egocentric; a critical nature which is used in establishing a moral basis; an immense energy level; sexual maturation; and a profound sense of personal justice juxtaposed against the contradictions and dilemmas of human existence.These characteristics generate and interact with several distinct needs. These include the need: for productive work; to make decisions and allow for mistakes; to build community within the group; for challenge, both physical and intellectual; to experience the land, their natural environment; and to develop a sustaining personal vision.
Some of the ways in which academic areas are made relevant to these aspects of adolescence include: an emphasis on ethical considerations and debate in the study of the humanities; the exploration of self-expression through the study of music, language, literature and drama as well as writing, art and dance; the study of nature made memorable through participation in an intensive outdoor education program; and firsthand experience of social studies and civic responsibility through the adoption of causes and active community involvement.