Hong Kong's Only 'Indie'

Montessori 6-12 Environment

I would just like to highlight a few key principles in this very short space --

Maria Montessori is a medical doctor who first worked with disadvantaged children. Through trials and observations in both the scientific and anthropological sense, she determined that children have a great desire to learn. They exhibit natural characteristics such as the need for order, the desire to fiddle and explore, and the passion to be productive. The Montessori environment encourages children to use these gifts, so they may adapt themselves to be constructive, composed, confident and contributing members of human society.

Self-motivation is the most important -- Montessori education begins with respect and love for the child spirit, and ends with peace within and among all people.

Although Maria Montessori has lived through the two deadliest wars in history, she holds utmost admiration for the wonderful wealth of knowledge humans have created in what is only a few seconds if our entire geological history is an hour. The grandeur of how a flaming ball settled into trees, mountains, lakes and fishes, and how mono-cellular organisms evolved into mammals that can fly into space, commands nothing but awe. This sets the context for all academic lessons at 6-12.

The 6-12 curriculum succeeds from the 3-6 'Casa dei bambini' environment. What has been previously absorbed, be it the names of countries, geometric shapes or the fancy binomial cube, will be logically analysed and studied in the elementary years. All topics begin with a fantastical but scientifically- and historically-founded story, then concrete, sensorial experience (fiddling, experimenting, classifying, observing or acting), before lastly arriving at an abstract theory or idea.

The Montessori approach for elementary children sets its curriculum boundaries as the entire universe. It begins with the geological history of earth, moves onto the evolutionary history of life, to a brief overview of civilisations and inventions. All topics are delivered through a series of short and succinct lessons, providing a framework for children to discover and expand in detail.

Maria and Mario Montessori felt passionately for the creative work of the hand and the mind, of known and unknown individuals, across humanity. Humans, animals and all organisms are 'agents of creation' who provide for their own needs yet unknowingly contribute to the benefit of others. The Montessori science lessons stress functions and contributions, while Montessori history lessons stress the needs. Arts and sciences constantly intertwine in the stories and key lessons provided.

As such, the classroom is really just the 'home base' for children to work and cross-inspire. Teaching can expand beyond the established Montessori curriculum into any area of the child's interest (such as IT, art history). Much of the learning should occur beyond the classroom through interacting with society. All we know about the universe is hardly ever contained within four walls, but rather shared by the whole of humanity.

(To facilitate the children's research interests and to provide for their endless questioning, we welcome our friends and community to volunteer on our TEAM -- a directory of Teachers, Experts, Advisors and Mentors -- to support the children and I in our curious endeavours. You can be a TEAM for anything -- literally anything -- you work professionally or keep as a hobby. Please reach out to us with your name, e-mail address, and phone number. Headshot and organisation name are optional.)

• Solid and meaningful understanding of math, grammar, the sciences (geography, biology, physics, chemistry) and history
• True global citizens who are able to see man by their common gifts, rather than by colour, nationality, class or ideology
• Research, project-management, and presentation skills, along with creative expression
• Productive and conscientious members of society who do what is right and necessary
• The willingness to search and to solve
• Middle school options: international schools, IB schools, farm schools