Thriving, resilient communities come together when people share values and actively seek to uphold those values through their actions. In its simplest terms, a community is based on a common element. For us, that element is our school. Yet, the reasons I love our community and feel grateful every day to be a part of it go deeper. For me, it is our shared values that give meaning to the work we do together.

Our community values are guided by key principles in Montessori philosophy that we practice every day. In Montessori, our core principle is respect for the child. We follow the child. We offer the child freedom and responsibility. We are friendly with error. We model living together in a way that offers dignity to all. It’s fair to say that we aim to treat others as we would like to be treated.

So if we adhere to the golden rule, a shared principle across many cultures, how is Montessori special? In setting the expectation that we offer each person both freedom and responsibility, Dr. Montessori offered us another way to approach the golden rule. Montessori philosophy explores the importance of each child following their individual path, with respect to their community, so they may become a confident, capable, well-balanced person of their time and place.

Crucially, Montessori offered us a way to consider the choices of an individual within the wider world. As Montessorians, we observe behaviors with three questions in mind. If a person is hurting themself, others, or the environment, we set a limit. If a person is not doing harm, we offer freedom. With young children, the ongoing ebb and flow of their freedom, paired with the responsibility to use it well, is comforting in its consistency and its ultimate grounding in respect.

Children thrive with high expectations, and with purposeful play. In Montessori, we offer respect to the child’s endeavors by intentionally naming their activities “work.” We offer them the freedom to pursue their work within a physical environment that supports their success. Equally importantly, we offer them a social-emotional environment that supports their ongoing development of respect for themself and others.

As a community, we acknowledge that practice makes progress and everybody makes mistakes. We welcome people of all ages to recognize that mistakes are learning opportunities. We assure each other that we are all learners. For the children, knowing that this is a value we apply to everyone is proof of its validity. It becomes a truth, a comfort in challenge, the deep breath we draw as we notice a problem, accept it, and choose to consider solutions. It is compassion for others and compassion for ourselves.

As a community, we acknowledge that we can help each other. Sometimes, we help by observing, offering the silent assurance that we see a person’s, or a team’s, capability. We believe in them. Sometimes, we help by offering assistance and waiting to learn whether it’s welcome. We help each other do better with kindness, patience, and the opportunity to practice.

Dr. Montessori wrote and spoke of the physical environment that best supports children’s development, inviting us to create beautiful, orderly spaces with proportional furniture and breakable items where children could work with their hands. Partnered with the physical environment, and equally essential, is the intangible environment. This is the spirit of a place. Dr. Montessori invited us to tend to this aspect of our community with care. While unable to be touched, it affects us deeply. We see and hear it all day.

Dr. Montessori realized that these key environmental elements invite children to engage freely and healthfully in their own deep internal work of developing a person. She realized that the world needs peace, and that peace comes when people live together in respect, and value each other’s differences.

I am grateful every day for the strength and diversity of our community and the engagement I witness among all ages as we all work together to create a wonderful place to grow and learn, a place where we come together as humans with the shared purpose of creating peace.

Written by Victoria Armstrong, Douglas Fir Children's House Guide