Creativity and the Montessori Mafia: Motivating Innovation, Questions are the new Answers

Long ago, we looked into Montessori education for our two kids, but opted instead for public schools in the end. I do, however,  hold high regard for the concepts behind Montessori's spectacular educational model, and have been watching how much they are doing right so it was no surprise to me to read yesterday's Wall Street Journal "Ideas" section featured a story by Peter Sims on "The Montessori Mafia" (4/5/11).


The story talked about the high incidence of Montessori-schooled creative business executives with a penchant for innovation. Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, videogame pioneer Will Wright, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, the late Julia Child and even rapper Sean “P. Diddy” Combs credit the collaborative learning environment without grades or tests as their foundation for success.


Sims, the Wall Street Journal Ideas blogger and article's author, says, "...Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that Montessori alumni lead two of the world’s most innovative companies. Or perhaps the Montessori Mafia can provide lessons for us all even though it’s too late for most of us to attend Montessori.  We can change the way we’ve been trained to think. That begins in small, achievable ways, with increased experimentation and inquisitiveness. Those who work with Mr. Bezos, for example, find his ability to ask 'why not?' or 'what if?' as much as 'why?' to be one of his most advantageous qualities.  Questions are the new answers."

So in other words, while many kids ask, "Why is the sky blue?", Montessori asks kids to find their own answers - self-directed learning - training their minds to travel different "dead-end roads" before they come to their best answers. 


As parents of tweens, nurturing creativity and self-directed learning is not limited to Montessori students, nor is it limited to kids in elementary school.  There are lessons to be learned here.

I've always been fascinated by innovation; it's one of the reasons we call this blog "My Shiny Monkey." Inquisitive, agile, and curiously witty animals, monkeys symbolize our  creative spirit and embody self-directed learning... in a productive, "question authority but get results" kind of way. I love that spirit, and I live it every day.

Whether or not you agree with the Montessori method - you may even be a Mafia member yourself - there are lessons for everyone: 

1. Follow your curiosity. 
2. Think different. Act different. Be different. 
3. Question the rules (respectfully). 
4. Open your eyes to what's going on in the world, and never stop asking "why" and "what if we..." and "how could we possibly...". 

Oh, Montessori... just went I thought I was out, you pull me back in. (Sorry Michael Corleone.)