asked the Minister for Education whether Montessori courses are at present being sponsored by his Department, and if he will make a statement on the present position in regard to this branch of education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Montessori Courses.
Courses in the Montessori method of education are not sponsored by my Department.
Managers of national schools may, if they so desire, introduce the Montessori method into their schools, where circumstances permit, and where the teachers have had training in that method of teaching. Teachers in national schools are appointed by the managers of the schools, subject to their possessing certain minimum qualifications required by the rules and regulations. It is open to any manager to appoint a teacher possessing the additional qualification of being able to use the Montessori method.
Apart from any comparison of the relative merits of the various specialised systems of education, it would not be feasible to recommend the adoption of the Montessori method in the schools generally owing to the particular difficulties of staffing, accommodation and equipment which its use would raise.