MONTESSORI PROJECT – BHUTAN, 2006-10 Bhutan has only been open to the West since the 1960's. Since then the first schools have been created and the country is following a policy of NEW! 2010 UPDATE - THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL BEGINS! |
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Susan Stephenson of the Michael Olaf Montessori company has twice visited Bhutan as a consultant, preparing for the opening of the first 'real' Montessori class in that country for many years.. |
For information see these links: IN FEBRUARY Susan returned, with her daughter Narda Sherman, to see the first true Montessori class (headed by a teacher with the AMI 3-6 diploma) set up and operating. See the link at the top of the page for pictures and information.
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A very important part of introducing Montessori education into a country is gaining an understanding of the traditional life, the practical life, of the culture: the care of the person, the environment, and the traditional manners and courtesy. This area of learning forms the basis of a Montessori education; It helps children to develop awareness of others, responsibility, critical thinking, logic, concentration, independence, and respect for self, others and the world. With this solid foundation, motor- sensorial skills and academic studies follow easily and successfully. Montessori FAQ The pictures on these pages were taken by Susan Stephenson during her first trip in 2006. |
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| A "Dzong" has been for many years the center of government, of religion, and of education in Bhutan. This is the Paro Dzong. |
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Bhutan is mostly still an agrarian society. These people are sorting a new crop of potatoes, a staple food for the country. |
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This is a typical shop on the road between Paro and Thimphu. |
Women and men share equally in the work in Bhutan. |
Thimphu is the largest city in this country of less than 1 million population. There are traffic men, no traffic lights, in the country. |
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| Bhutan is famous for its weaving. For generations each family has hand woven the cloth for their daily costumes. | Young children are seen everywhere, often carried on the back of siblings, parents, grandparents, friends, absorbing the life around around them even before they can walk. | This is a woman weaving fabric to sell to visitors, in a beautiful fabric museum in Thimphu. |
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One day we stopped in the little town of Paro so Kinley could get a shoe fixed. This is the outside of the shoe shop. |
And this is the inside of the shoe shop |
Buddhism is large and important part of life for most of the Bhutanese people. This little temple is between Paro and Thimphu. |
PARTICIPATION IN BHUTAN PROJECT: During her last trip Susan sent back email reports to the three schools who supported her work. When she returned she added pictures to these emails and posted them here. The students at one of the schools went on to study and research Bhutan, put on a fair to present the culture of Bhutan to the public, involved parents and brought Susan to Connecticut to share her work with them. They have earned funds to support this years project. If you would like to be involved with this project, please act before the end of JANURAY. Any donation of $50 will receive Susan's email progress reports during the trip (to one email address) and a card mailed from Bhutan with the special, cherished, Bhutan stamp. Any donation of $200 or over will receive the email reports, the card and another small gift from the Himalayas. To participate, please send your donation and ONE email address for the news to "Susan Stephenson" PO Box 890, Trinidad, CA 95570. |
ART: Susan often tries to capture her impressions in oil paintings, in order to be able to share her experiences with others at home. The painting on the right was done in oil, from photographs the teacher graciously allowed Susan to take, shows a class of young monks at the Dzong in Paro. Susan will be speaking about Bhutan at a Montessori conference in Portland, Oregon in March: NAMTA |
To see other art from Susan's travels, |
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Return to the Bhutan Montessori Project home page — Bhutan, 2006 Return to Michael Olaf Children's Projects — Projects Return to www.michaelolaf.net |
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One of the questions I am asked most often is, since children all over the world need help, why do I continue to help in certain countries and not in others. After thinking a lot about this question I have come up with two answers. (1) In countries like Bhutan, where Montessori is new and has not been watered-down into "Montessori-something," and where there are not schools that bear little resemblance to those classes described in Dr. Montessori's writings, I can help prevent this error, and help create a true Montessori experience for children. (2) I have always been interested in the relationship between the results (happiness, calm, compassion, etc.) of meditation and prayer in adults, and children's deep, uninterrupted concentration that is protected and so an everyday occurrence in Montessori classes. Also, I want to learn more about the relationship between the spiritual concept of mindfulness (being in the present and full of gratitude) in everyday activities, and the way work is presented to, and carried out by, children in a Montessori class. This makes me very interested in cultures that practice Buddhism which offers a 2500 year-old study of both concepts. (3) In the name of peace and the hope of a future world where humans everywhere respect all cultures and peoples, I believe that we must start with the children, and I love helping to forge bonds between children in the USA and other countries. In Montessori we speak of one's Cosmic Task as a work that benefits one while at the same time contributing to the good of others. For now this international Montessori work is my Cosmic Task. |
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