2009 International Montessori Congress
Montessorians from around the world gathered in Chennai, India, for the 26th annual International Montessori Conference held from January 5-8, 2009. The congress, sponsored by AMI, took place on the grounds of Kalakshetra, a well-known arts institution in India. The theme of this year’s congress was Sãdhanã: an Indian word that describes reflective practices mixed with spontaneous living. Sãdhanã, especially as it related to the natural development of children, was the theme of many of the discussions, lectures and events held throughout the weekend.
Dr. Maria Montessori lived in India from 1939 to 1946. During this period she was inspired by her surroundings to focus on a global vision of peace as championed by the likes of Mohandas Gandhi: ”Each one has to find peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.” The notion of peace beginning with each person, indeed each child, would become a theme in Dr. Montessori’s work thereafter: ”Peace is a practical principle of human civilization and social organization that is based on the very nature of man. Peace does not enslave him, rather, it exalts him. It does not humiliate him, but rather makes him conscious of his own power over the universe. And because it is based on man’s nature, it is a constant, a universal principle that applies to all human beings.”
Photographs
Return to the Professional Development page for more information about conferences and events.
To submit your own photographs, from this conference or any other AMI or AMI/USA event, please e-mail sarah@amiusa.org.
