"Opening Space for Peace and High Performance": The Gift of Invitation in Montessori Education and Open Space Technology

Somewhere beyond the notion of peace-as-the-cessation-of-war (as one side oppresses another) exists the possibility of a future that works for all.  Wondering what such a future might look like and what would be required of us to create such a reality, I've been exploring theories and methods from a variety of fields.  At an Open Space Technology (OST) event this weekend, the value of authentic invitation was highlighted.  It deeepend my appreciation for the gift of invitation in Montessori education and how each day it edges the world closer towards Dr. Montessori's vision of peace.

Open Space Technology "is an approach to purpose-driven leadership, including a way for hosting meetings and events focused on a specific and important purpose or task, but beginning without any formal agenda beyond the overall purpose or theme". (Wikipedia)  Montessorians who attend an Open Space event often comment that it feels "Montessori-like" in that the facilitator creates a safe and often beautiful environment where all choices are displayed so individuals may freely choose based on their curiosity and passion, and they are encouraged to remain with their choice only as long as they are meaningfully engaged, at which time they are free to move around and explore other choices.  

Having experienced the power of OST to stimulate, shift, and galvanize groups, I wanted to dive deeper and learn more from its founder, Harrison Owen, who was co-hosting, "Opening Space for Peace and High Performance" in NYC this past weekend.  An intrepid and diverse group of individuals from as far away as France and Chile gathered, recognizing that humans, our organizations, indeed the entire cosmos, are all self-organizing systems, and considering how we might leverage the power of self-organization to guide society through the turbulence and chaos of our times.

Harrison emphasized that the magic associated with Open Space Technology is not something we "make" happen. Rather, OST establishes the conditions for it to emerge by providing a safe space in which the power of self-organization (similar to "self-construction") is freed to flourish.  He cautioned that fear and force collapse space, and that when space is shut, options disappear and creativity evaporates.  

Fear is infectious, Harrison noted, as evidenced throughout today's world.  The only way out of fear, he explained, is to open the space somehow -- but you cannot force people into that space.  Any time someone is forced to do something, the spark of engagement, innovation, and possibility is extinguished.  An authentic invitation -- an invitation to realize one own's humanity -- is essential for the magic of transformation to emerge.

Peter Block echos this sentiment in Community: The Structure of Belonging: "Choice [is] another term for engaging the whole person", and "the only way real transformation occurs". (Pg 114-115)  "Invitation is not only a step in bringing people together, it is also a fundamental way of being in community...and manifests the willingness to live in a collaborative way." (Pg 117) 

Invitation, in the world of self-organizing systems, is a seed of possibility that may someday flourish into a more harmonious, just, and sustainable future.  Although intuitively it makes sense that such a future will be beckoned, rather than mandated, into existence, it seems radical to consider that rather than toppling institutions, peace might spread virally as the global organism/self-organizing system known as humanity recognizes that "every day, in every moment, in every encounter, we have an opportunity to open space, inviting someone to realize his/her own humanity".*  And that's something Montessorians are doing everyday! 

(*Quote from Harrison Owen)

Representative John Becker Comes to Visit

As a first step in bringing the awareness of Montessori Education to the legislative table during educational policy meetings, I invited Representative John Becker, Ohio House District 65, to tour Children’s Meeting House in Loveland, Ohio and see the power and beauty of Montessori Education in action.

The classrooms were quiet, yet bustling with activity and movement.  Children were working together sharing ideas and answering questions about their work while other children worked independently, absorbed in their process.  Teachers were hard to find, quietly giving lessons, answering questions, and providing assistance when needed.  Looking like chaos compared to a conventional classroom, Meg Thomas, the Head of School for Children’s Meeting House, explained some of the reasons why a Montessori classroom is so successful.  She emphasized how the children working independently, on work of their own choosing, from carefully designed and sequenced materials deepens the level of learning within the child and, through careful observation, allows the teacher to easily assess the child’s skills and knowledge – without the time-consuming testing that is so prevalent in conventional schools.

A father to a college-aged daughter, Mr. Becker had heard the term Montessori but was not aware of what it truly meant.  With an MBA with a focus on taxation, the math curriculum was a great place to explore the Montessori materials in action.  In the pre-primary class, a 4 year old, was working with the golden bead material and let him share the sensorial experience of the difference between 1 and 1000.  “Wow, that’s heavy!” declared Becker.  Another child, age 5, introduced the linear counting chains, counting and labeling the six chain, then showing him how to fold the chain and stack the squares to make a cube. As the tour moved into the elementary classrooms, Becker received a presentation for the trinomial cube.   With gentle guidance from his 7 year old teacher, Becker successfully built the cube and put it back in the box.  Such great patience and perseverance!  He even got to take home the written expression of the trinomial equation.  What a fabulous introduction to the Montessori math materials, making abstract numerical concepts a concrete understanding.

Knowing that there is a large push to remove cursive writing from the curriculum, he seemed surprised to see our students writing in such beautiful handwriting.  Becker asked, “Do the children learn to write in script?”  Thomas’ replied, “Yes, it is still a valuable tool to learn, if for no other reason than it is a significant part of our history.  Our constitution is written in cursive; we’d like our students to be able to read it.”  Quite a powerful perspective for a politician to consider!

It is my hope that the next time Representative Becker places his vote on an educational topic, he will ask himself, “How will this affect Montessori schools?”

I continue to urge you to take action.  Support Montessori education by inviting your state representative and senator to your school.  No agenda, no issues to discuss, and no speeches, but just a casual visit as an introduction to some Montessori constituents.  Not only does this provide an opportunity for the politician to be awed by the Montessori environment and impressed by the children working, but also it aides in raising an awareness of just how many Montessori schools may be in the district. Contact your state representatives here: www.ohiohouse.gov and www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/index.

Written by Jill Wilson