AMI's 26th International Montessori Congress-2009,part 1

AMI ‘S 26TH INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI CONGRESS,
KALASHETRA – MADRAS, TAMIL NADU, 2009 part 1
We are proud and thankful that the 26th International Montessori Congress took place in India. It is very special that the congress was conducted in the great college for classical dance and music. It is KALASHETRA in Madras. This institution was found by SreeRukminiDevi Arundael.
She and her husband were the cause for Dr.Montessori’s arrival in 1939 to India. So we have the history of 70 years of Montessori education in this great land of spirituality and wisdom. So AMI has taken this city and place where Montessori lived and evolved her self with her education.
We thank many officials of AMI and others who all worked for the past 1.5 years to put up the successful congress show. We are also thanking SAKTHI FOUNDATION AND ABACUS MONTESSORI SCHOOL – MADRAS, for making all arrangements with financial support and moral support for Dr.Madeswaran.M who has represented NAMMA VEEDU MONTESSORI HOUSE OF CHILDREN- SENDURAI.
This article and further articles will be clearly giving the minutes and important events of Montessori Congress which happened from January 5th to 8th of this year. The important messages and minutes of various paper presentations will be given in very simple way in the following articles.
Uniqueness of the Congress:
1. AMI has embraced all Montessori schools without any discrimination. We were happy to see all our GURUs from INDIAN MONTESSORI TRAINING INSTITUTE- BANGALORE.
2. People from all over this great nation have arrived. There were Montessori tutors, school principals, directors, parents and educationalists. Around 1800 delegates from all over the globe has arrived.
3. We feel great to see our children who were acting as most responsible volunteers for 4 hard days from 7.15 A.M till night 8 P.M. We thank all adults from Navadisha, Abacus, Kalashetra, Patshala for training them. Children from these Montessori schools expressed the real inner order and service to the public and showed that they are unique. They were so humble, honest, lovable and most responsible.
4. Kalashetra has provided the auditorium, with 6 more classes for various activities.
5. We thank Dr.Leela Samson the director of Kalashetra for her humble help and participation. It is very rare to see such great personalities today with that humble and love to serve.
6. Most of ABACUS teachers were involved in this. Many of them were delegates. We thank the school for paying 90 percent of the Congress fees for the staff based on the seniority and Montessori interest.
7. We thank Kalashetra students for their involvement in this congress.

Interesting activities during the congress days:
1. We all have gathered at Kalashetra by sharp 7 in the morning to do yoga under the supervision of the great yoga guru Desikacharya and his staff. On 5th January we had various Montessori school visits.
2. Then we all left for a nature walk across the Kalashetra campus, beach and banyan tree.
3. By sharp 7.30 A.M, we had our delicious breakfast then we chatted and met many delegates.
4. We were sharing very important and unique moments, observations, questions and every thing was only about ‘’THE CHILD’’.
5. Then we sat for the morning talks given by various pioneers from all over the world. All the days began with the yoga chanting from Vedas with explanations especially in connection with teaching.
6. Few were very inspiring, few were dull to sit and listen. There were few important power point presentations, DVD shows about children and life.
7. Then by 11. 15, we had a good coffee break for 10 minutes.
8. Then we proceeded with talks and went for good grand lunch by sharp 12.
9. We too enjoyed the most colorful ALL INDIA FOLK HANDICRAFT EXHIBITION within the campus. We all have purchased many things for the schools.
10. Then by sharp 2.15, we had many interesting breakup sessions of our own choice in which we can talk and present our work.
11. Then again by 4 P.M we had one more talk and followed with beautiful classical dances, music, folk traditions from Kalashetra.

12. Then we ended the day with grand dinner and left home by 8 P.M.

13. We met 2 abroad Montessori material manufacturers from Holland and Italy. But I can’t offer to them. The cost is very much. We too had few Indian Montessori engineers who took us to see their products which were not allowed inside for exhibition.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM FOR MANY OF US:
AMI from Hyderabad has presented the scared materials used by Dr.Maria Montessori in Adyar between 1939 to 1947. Most of the materials were allowed to see very near by and every one was touched in heart to see her own hand made materials.

Thank you!