AMI and AMS: What would Maria want?
From the first time I stepped into a Montessori classroom back in 2012, I've been a disciple of the approach and committed myself to studying all aspects of the method. I've known that AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) and AMS (American Montessori Society) differ slightly in some ways but I have always believed the core philosophy and priniciples abound in each.
I was trained in 2014 through an AMS training center. I've attended conferences, workshops, seminars, even graduate school with Montessorians from both trainings. I taught at an AMS school in the states, then I took my graduate degree with an AMI institute, and now I teach at an AMI school in France. I've never been made to feel like having an AMS training is lesser or better than AMI. I've viewed them as equally valuable and both high quality.
I was trained in 2014 through an AMS training center. I've attended conferences, workshops, seminars, even graduate school with Montessorians from both trainings. I taught at an AMS school in the states, then I took my graduate degree with an AMI institute, and now I teach at an AMI school in France. I've never been made to feel like having an AMS training is lesser or better than AMI. I've viewed them as equally valuable and both high quality.
At my current school which is AMI, there are sometimes discrepancies in practice. These are usually minor and require observation and teamwork to work out. Ultimately, my school has the attitude that whatever is the best practice for the child should be applied regardless of which training center it comes from. For example, AMI does not color the water used in pouring works. In AMS, I was taught to put a little food coloring in the water so the toddlers could visually see the amount they are working with in a more defined way. My director had never heard of this but she found it interesting and was willing to adjust. This is the way I believe in my heart Montessori should work.
From research and study, I've never been led to believe that the two were incompatible. I did some more research and found these explanations on montessorianswers.com :
AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) - was established by Maria Montessori and her son, Mario in 1929 and has international headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In AMI schools, Montessori philosophy and curriculum are implemented in a way that is consistent with the original approach of Maria Montessori. The Montessori materials are used precisely in the manner used by Dr. Montessori without deviation or extensions; preserving what proponents of this interpretation believe is the purity of the method.
AMS (American Montessori Society) - In the late 1960 Nancy McCormick Rambusch, an AMI Montessori trained teacher founded the American Montessori Society (AMS). She firmly believed that aspects of the Montessori method had to be modified to accommodate the culture in America. In AMS schools, teachers continue the methods developed by Dr. Montessori while bringing in outside resources, materials, and ideas to extend or supplement the Montessori curriculum. Examples include the use of technology and current events.
Recently, I found myself in the middle of a conflict regarding these two training institutions. It really hurt my heart to experience such segregation. At the core, we believe in the same thing so we should be able to come together in a united purpose and direction.
It got me thinking; what would Maria want? Dr. Maria Montessori was an advocate for peace. She strived to bring people together regardless of their differences. I think a divide in her followers would break her heart. I believe Maria would want us to come together in a united front to be able to share Montessori with the world. At the end of the day, are our differences or similarities more important?
“This is education, understood as a help to life; an education from birth, which feeds a peaceful revolution and unites all in a common aim, attracting them to a single center." -Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
AMS (American Montessori Society) - In the late 1960 Nancy McCormick Rambusch, an AMI Montessori trained teacher founded the American Montessori Society (AMS). She firmly believed that aspects of the Montessori method had to be modified to accommodate the culture in America. In AMS schools, teachers continue the methods developed by Dr. Montessori while bringing in outside resources, materials, and ideas to extend or supplement the Montessori curriculum. Examples include the use of technology and current events.
Recently, I found myself in the middle of a conflict regarding these two training institutions. It really hurt my heart to experience such segregation. At the core, we believe in the same thing so we should be able to come together in a united purpose and direction.
It got me thinking; what would Maria want? Dr. Maria Montessori was an advocate for peace. She strived to bring people together regardless of their differences. I think a divide in her followers would break her heart. I believe Maria would want us to come together in a united front to be able to share Montessori with the world. At the end of the day, are our differences or similarities more important?
“This is education, understood as a help to life; an education from birth, which feeds a peaceful revolution and unites all in a common aim, attracting them to a single center." -Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
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