The Montessori Method

June 15, 2004
While still controversial within certain circles, Montessori remains one of the most important figures in the history of educational reform in the 20th century. Editor Gutek (educational leadership & policy studies, emeritus, Loyola Univ.) divides this volume into three parts: a brief biographical introduction of Montessori, an abridged and slightly annotated version of one of her seminal works, and a few very brief examples of contemporary reactions to her ideas. Any significant reevaluation of Montessori's life and work should find a place in any library, but Gutek's latest book does not make the grade; it does not reflect the rich interpretation of Montessori's work one might expect of an eminent philosopher of education. There is little in this new edition to recommend it to any library that already holds the original source work (The Montessori Method), Rita Kramer's Maria Montessori: A Biography, or even Gutek's own textbook (Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education: A Biographical Introduction, 3d ed.), which includes a sketch of Montessori not significantly shorter than the one provided here.-Scott Walter, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman

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