{"id":240349,"date":"2024-01-21T22:54:37","date_gmt":"2024-01-21T22:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/?p=240349"},"modified":"2024-01-21T22:54:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T22:54:40","slug":"montessori-elementary-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/montessori-elementary-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Could the Public Montessori Elementary School Work For Your Family?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In downtown Brooklyn, the DOE is opening a Montessori elementary school going by the name PS 482. Next to PS 456<\/a> which is Brooklyn New School’s offshoot, PS 482 is probably the second most conveniently located school in downtown Brooklyn (8 subway stops within a 3-5 minute walk). Could it work for your family even if my initial read is that it’s going to be fauxtessori? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TL:DR: if you’re looking for FIDELITY to the Montessori scope and sequence, a public Montessori elementary school will not be able to deliver. Especially once you get to third grade where state testing begins, it’s hard to see how the lower elementary curricula will be translated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this school is still an option that I’m super excited about <\/strong>I’m going to leave the question of fidelity to parents exclusively comparing private school options where yes, if you’re all-in on a Montessori education, it should be authentic. In that case, a fauxtessori program would be a waste of money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I’ve written elsewhere, a Montessori education has become restricted to just upper middle class families due to the cost of admission. It doesn’t have to be this way though, especially when Maria Montessori developed her methodology by teaching super underprivileged Italian students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I attended a virtual information session for Ps 482 on Jan 19 with the principal, Carol Mongiello. She had JUST transitioned into the role on Jan 2nd, so let’s give her grace as she is a one-woman team with nine months to prepare for opening day. She previously wrote a proposal to open up a new school – PS 59 (Harbor View School) – on Staten Island and served as principal for seven years, so I can see why she was selected to be the project director + principal for PS 482. Let’s break down what I heard \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How will a Montessori elementary school differ from regular DOE public schools? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are three key ways that this program will certainly differ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n