The Money
For some families, money is not a problem. But for others, it is. In either case, there are very important reasons for attending a Montessori school.
For many families, private education is a struggle. But is it an exceptionally valuable struggle carried on in the best interest of those families’ most precious possessions, their own children? The struggle makes sense because the first ten to fifteen years of education (from pre-school through eighth grade) are the period in life in which every penny invested in a child’s education has its greatest effect. Study after study show the irreplaceable impact of early life experiences in later academic success. The time for investment in education is not just high school or college: without the proper foundations, students won’t get the most out of their higher education and families won’t get their money’s worth.
A Montessori education is the greatest investment that any parent can make for his or her child. The return on this investment is a happy, capable child equipped with unique skills which are critical for genuine success in a global society. This is the kind of young person that really wonderful secondary schools and universities search for. But the question is really much larger than that. The question is the kind of life that lies ahead for your child. The unique range of experiences and skills gained by children in Montessori serve them ever after as a source of positive self-regard, a source of confidence and energy with which to face the world. What more can any parent hope for his or her child?
(adapted from Michael Rosanova, Intercultura Montessori School, 2003)