Statement by United States Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath Upon the Death of Maria Montessori

STATEMENT * The death of Dr. Marie Montessori occasions a loss to education all over the world. An out standing leader of early childhood education in ner own native Italy, Dr. Hontessori was well chown in the United States for the ideas she advanced in the education of young children. Through her writings and lectures in this country, she brought much to leaders here who were interested in the development of children and schools for the young. Her emphasis on freeing the learner to explore nis world was generally accepted by educators here. This emphasis the Italian educator voiced in words to be remembered by us all: "No' one can be free unless he is independent; therefore the first free, active manifestations of the child's individual liberty must be so guided that through this activity he may arrive at independence." Her words, written in 1912, came from a leader of vision who recognized the importance of educating, a new generation to think and to solve problems never before met. *By Earl Janes McGrath, U. S. Comnissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C., upon the death of Dr. Marie Montessori, the renowned Italian educator, to the Overseas Press, State Department, May J, 1952.