According to Taoist tradition, the definition of organic harmony is as follows:
Organic harmony refers to that kind of harmonious organization that is brought about by spontaneous mutual adjustment of all the elements in a whole.
In an effort to follow Dr. Maria Montessori’s inspiration and teachings, here are some words of advice from the legend herself and a very accomplished Montessorian, Catherine McTamaney.
Work is necessary; it can be nothing less than a passion; a person is happy in accomplishment.
—Maria Montessori
Preparation is key. The Pareto principle says 80% of success is based on preparation and 20% on effort. In her book, The Tao of Montessori, Catherine McTamney says “Always be prepared! There are always more materials to have available. …activities will never take exactly the amount of time you expected. If you need them to last ten minutes, they’ll almost certainly be finished in five. If you only have eight minutes…time will almost certainly need at least twenty. The day after you brag about how peacefully … is progressing, chaos will reign. Always be prepared!” She says wise teachers have contingency plans and are also spontaneous. There is a balancing act that takes skill and luck. Before you start to prepare your environment for what is becoming reality fairly quickly, prepare your spirit. Take the time to mentally prepare yourself and your hero’s environment. She continues to say, “No day will unfold exactly as we have expected. Nor should it. These are lives. This is life. We can teach rigidity or resilience. We can value the experience or the plan.” Let’s value this experience together. You can not survive in the wild without knowledge. Similarly, the home classroom will not last long without some preparation. There will always be surprises. That’s okay. Give yourself some spiritual space to change the course without losing your focus. Experience these great adventures. Sometimes you’ll venture off your path. That’s okay. Just make sure to remember how to come back!
“…we may not be as competent as teachers as we seem. We all question whether we’re doing enough. We all question whether we are enough. We all pretend not to. The busywork may be necessary. So often, though, we hold forth the things of our lives as though they are the purpose of our lives. We present the documentation of evidence that we have been doing what we were meant to as teachers when the classrooms can speak for themselves. And in focusing on the paperwork, we miss invaluable opportunities to share the language of our classrooms. Yes, the busy work may be necessary, but as a necessary afterthought to work done well, not as a substitute for the work itself.”
-The Tao of Montessori
Reflections on Compassionate Teaching by Catherine McTamaney
Even though there are no teachers at THA, remember what’s most important is not the work, but the process. Dr. Maria always talks about freedom within limits. If there were no limits, then freedom becomes useless. Once the limits are established, allow for liberty to make use of the environment.
Sincerely,
SS Guides