On April 14, students stepped out of the classroom and learned firsthand what it means to participate in a representative democracy. On that Saturday, elementary students got involved; they gave up their free time to take part in The Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition Step It Up 2007 rally. The idea to attend the event was a brainchild of teacher Tara Lamoureux and her students. The children became part of grassroots communication with legislators and the beginnings of social change.
Montessori education, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, emphasizes the development of a global vision. At the elementary level, Montessori children use the universe as a context for their study. Through the curriculum, the children develop gratitude for the world around them, and become aware of their role in it. Students search for connections and seek to answer questions that they themselves ask. The children become committed to finding answers that are meaningful to them.
“We really thought about what we could do to influence government policy,” Lamoureux said. “The kids really wanted to get involved in something authentic before our trip to D.C.”
As part of the cultural studies curriculum, the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders have been studying how a bill becomes a law in the United States. The students have been following the global warming issue in Congress and have written to their senators and congressional representatives. They have also been doing research in science on the impact of global warming, wind power, and how people use natural resources.
At the rally, Montessori students carried a banner they created, “Think About It … Where Will We Live?” The children summarized the report from the Integrated Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the classroom and read from their work at the rally. The young people highlighted the salient issues in the report and made personal appeals to legislators and the world.
After listening to the Montessori speeches, Congressman Ed Markey, chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, announced at the rally that the students had “done his job” and that he had “never heard such a good summary of the issues.” He later asked to have copies of the class notes for presentation to Congress.Students’ reactions to the rally were very positive.
“The rally was awesome. There were no other elementary schools there,” said fifth grader Daniel Lehman. “We felt very important. It was amazing that people listened.”
Amy Schecter, a fourth grader, said, “We did something that matters. I think we had a lot more impact as a group.”
“Practical life is an important component of the Montessori pedagogy, and the rally helped make the bill-to-law process real for the kids,” said head teacher Joyce Nett.
“It was a great experience,” added Biff Maier, director of curriculum. “They learned that a small group of committed people can change the world.”