Practical Life

Maria Montessori spoke at the London Lectures in 1946. “When we speak about the behavior of men and animals, we refer to their purposeful movements. This behavior is the center of their practical life. It is not just the practical aspects of daily life, such as cleaning rooms and watering plants, that are important, but also the fact that everyone in the world must move with a purpose and work, not only for themselves but also for others. It is strange that man's work must also be done in the service of others, as we learn from Jesus Christ. He came to serve, not to be served. All work is done not only for us but also for others. Even something as frivolous as dancing would be pointless without an audience. The dancers, who perfect their movements with so much trouble and fatigue, dance for others. Tailors who spend their lives sewing could not wear all the clothes they make themselves. Yet tailoring, like gymnastics, requires lots of movements. When we focus on the King and His Kingdom, and our destiny He has prepared for us before the foundations of the earth began, every life in the world is based on this movement with a purpose. You will be able to understand and better direct the children's work. Initially, children are naturally inclined to be active. They are happy when they are active. They begin to develop the behavior of humanity with its limits and its possibilities. Children will absorb into their being that which they are exposed to in their environment. Movement is closely connected to their emotional life; we must move with intelligence, will, character, etc.” (Paraphrased with additional spiritual, biblical understanding.)