Founded
by Mario M. Montessori in 1961, the 'Centro Internazionale
Studi Montessoriani' of Bergamo was the first A.M.I. (Association
Montessori Internationale) centre to prepare Montessori
teachers for elementary school and is therefore the A.M.I.
centre with the longest tradition of holding advanced
Montessori courses. During the early years, Mario Montessori
lectured extensively for the Bergamo Course and the knowledge
and experience developed over the years constituted a
basis for all advanced training courses.
The C.I.S.M. Foundation is a centre of studies because
it undertakes research on Maria and Mario Montessori’s
unpublished contributions to Montessori methodology; because
it is a centre for documenting the history of the Montessori
Movement throughout the world; because it is a centre
for biographical and bibliographical information.
The
C.I.S.M. Foundation is an international centre because
it draws students from all continents and countries. Thus,
for the 49 courses that have been held, students have
come from 41 different countries: 19 European and 22 belonging
to other continents.
During the academic year 2010-2011, the Bergamo Centre
will be holding its 50th full-time annual course: years
that represent a constant and profound commitment to the
work carried on in the name of both Maria and Mario Montessori.
SEPTEMBER
2nd 2010 TO JUNE 30TH 2011
BAIBA KRUMINS GRAZZINI - COURSE DIRECTOR
In 1960, the
late Dr. Mario M. Montessori, General Director of A.M.I.,
decided to establish a Centre for the preparation of Montessori
elementary teachers, in Bergamo.
Considered
from a point of view which is worldwide rather than limited
to a single country, the history of the Montessori Movement
reveals how Maria Montessori refused to be "in the
service of any political or social creed" because
she looked for the man beyond this kind of context and
wanted to see created a man who would be a 'citizen of
the world', that is, a "complete human being, able
to exercise in freedom a self-disciplined will and judgement
unperverted by prejudice and undistorted by fear".
Thus the Montessori idea has found itself in different
cultures, different times and places whilst always remaining
loyal to itself. Our age is characterised by the need
for such a man, tolerant because free, and able to appreciate
the most diverse of cultures.
Besides the annual Course for Elementary Education, the
main aim of the Centre is to keep in contact with other
Montessori Centres in order to share those ideas and experiences
which are conducive to the Montessori goal of creating
this 'citizen of the world'.
We emphasise the need for unity, because this common goal
will only be realised as a result of sharing the extensive
work and experience in the different levels of education,
in the different subject areas, with children from different
environments and with different cultural backgrounds.
Working on the basis of the prodigious efforts made and
documented during the last fifteen years of Dr. Montessori's
life, the Centre collaborates with experts in various
fields in order to research and develop new materials.
The Centre also has the aim of helping schools directed
by former students, by means of both periodic visits for
consultation and the organisation of seminars, workshops
and refresher courses to help the further education and
inner growth of the teachers. The idea is to bring the
teachers together for the sharing of their experiences
and the creation of a strong unity of ideas. At the same
time, experimental classes in various countries can be
designated for the purpose of applying newly prepared
contributions.
