San Remo Lectures: II Human Solidarity in Time and Space

We continue our feature of Maria Montessori’s lectures delivered at the 8th International Montessori Congress, on 22-29 August, 1949, whose title was La Formazione dell’Uomo nella Ricostruzione Mondiale (Man’s Formation in World Reconstruction). This instalment is the lecture 'Human Solidarity in Time and Space'

(…) I remember reading in an Indian book a story that made a deep impression on me. It told the tale of a little shepherdess who had decided to make her environment more beautiful by planting two plants. One was for her own pleasure, the other she dedicated to God. Upon the latter she lavished special care, watering it diligently, protecting it from the sun and keeping it free of insects. The first she neglected, leaving it to the care of others. Contrary to every expectation, the plant dedicated to God died, while the other flourished. In despair, the little shepherdess wondered why her ministrations had had such disastrous results. The reply was: ‘You gave this plant too much water, you protected it from sun and insects while the plant needed chlorophyll from the sun, and insects for its growth and reproduction. You, yourself, destroyed it with your care.’

The same phenomenon occurs in the field of education. Often, the interference of family and educators, even if inspired by the best intentions, becomes an obstacle to the free development of the creative forces within the child, oppressing and suffocating his inner energies, obstructing the natural forces necessary for life.