Tania Gaffney – Rātā Head Teacher, Primary
The concept of a “mini-society” in a primary Montessori classroom refers to how the classroom functions as a small, self-regulating social community, mirroring a larger society. Dr. Maria Montessori saw the primary environment as more than a place for academic instruction – it is a “prepared environment” where children practice the responsibilities, freedoms, and social interactions that play out in real world.
Because the 6–12 age children are developing their reasoning mind, they are now ready to begin to explore moral reasoning, justice, collaboration, and social order. They begin to think beyond themselves and develop what Montessori called a “social sense.”
In this stage, the classroom becomes a microcosm of society – a mini-society – where children are learning to participate in all aspects of the classroom e.g. setting up the class treaty, learning how to work through issues, keeping the classroom in order, helping each other out when needed and learning how to cooperate together.
Primary ākonga are socially driven but they are learning how to manage this for the first time with a reasoning mind, so they will definitely make mistakes either inadvertently or on purpose (as they are often testing the boundaries).
If someone tells their workmate to ‘shut up’, what might the consequence be for that? Was it out of order to say it, or was there a reason for what they said? Children will often tell on each other as they are wanting to see where the boundaries lie, or if something was fair. When someone comes to me to tell on someone, my next question is usually – “Have you asked them why they did/said that?” The answer is usually no. I give them the words to go back and ask the question. This often opens up the conversation to delve deeper into the issue. Sometimes they need me to stand beside them for moral support, or to ensure the other child listens.
For children to learn from the mini-society there has to be freedom (with responsibility or within certain limits) to make choices e.g. what work to do, who to work with, where to work etc. Those decisions will lead to consequence either positive or negative that children will learn from.
This “mini-society” of the classroom allows children to learn in many ways e.g.-
- Engage in collective decision-making
- Learn from social mistakes
- Develop grace and courtesy
- Understand justice, fairness, and empathy
- Experience interdependence and social contribution
- Develop leadership skill
Children grow not just academically, but as human beings preparing for society.
