Montessori Quote: Child and the Environment

          

"The characteristic of children under 6 years of age is that it is almost impossible to teach them; children of this age cannot take from a teacher. Therefore they are considered to be too young to go to school and therefore education does not begin until 6 years of age.

          Another characteristic of this age is that the children know and understand a great                   deal. They are
 full of knowledge.

          This would seem to be a contradiction, but the truth is that these children must take knowledge
           by themselves from the environment."

          Maria Montessori, The Child, Society and the World, Clio Press, 1998, p. 44