I Run a Private School, and I’m Against School Vouchers

Many, many people across the political spectrum are concerned about the dire state of government schools today. Not only are too many students arriving at college illiterate, innumerate, and ignorant, but many have had to survive a dangerous and destructive time in government schools. Free society advocates argue that a market solution—thriving competition—is the key … Continue reading “I Run a Private School, and I’m Against School Vouchers”

What University Education Might Be and Ought to Be

University Education As It Might Be and Ought to Be Part I: What Is the Aim of a University Education? By Marsha Familaro Enright “Discipline must come through liberty. . . . We do not consider an individual disciplined only when he has been rendered as artificially silent as a mute and as immovable as … Continue reading “What University Education Might Be and Ought to Be”

Schools for Individualists – Montessori’s Methods and Today’s Problems

Marsha Familaro Enright Interview – Schools for Individualists In this 2007 interview by Sara Pentz in The New Individualist (link above), Ms. Enright explains fundamentals of excellent education, the ingenious ways the Montessori Method gives students what they need, how we arrived at the dismal state of education we have today, the dire effects of … Continue reading “Schools for Individualists – Montessori’s Methods and Today’s Problems”

Liberating Education – What Education Would Be Like In A Fully Free Society

“Liberating Education” by Marsha Familaro Enright, is the final chapter in Common Ground On Common Core. This chapter discusses the history of education in the U.S. since the time of the Pilgrims, and what education would like in a fully free society and laissez-faire market. Click on the link to read the PDF of this … Continue reading “Liberating Education – What Education Would Be Like In A Fully Free Society”

Review of Montessori, Dewey, and Capitalism: Educational Theory for a Free Market in Education by Jerry Kirkpatrick

Education As If Individuals Matter Jerry Kirkpatrick, Montessori, Dewey, and Capitalism: Educational Theory for a Free Market in Education (Claremont, CA: TLJ Books, 2008), 212 pages, $18.95 Reviewed by Marsha Familaro Enright Jerry Kirkpatrick, a professor of International Business and Marketing at California Polytechnic Institute, has come out with another book applying his passion for … Continue reading “Review of Montessori, Dewey, and Capitalism: Educational Theory for a Free Market in Education by Jerry Kirkpatrick”

Socratic Seminars: Learning to think first-hand: Revised 1-27-13

by Marsha Familaro Enright SOCRATIC SEMINARS are a method of teaching, which, if properly implemented, foster independence, develop excellent reasoning skills, and nurture a sense of the rightness of individual liberty. These seminars significantly increase the participants’ abilities to think for themselves. The term “Socratic Seminar” is used variously, but the following describes the kind I … Continue reading “Socratic Seminars: Learning to think first-hand: Revised 1-27-13”

Students Need Mental Ammunition

College students today face an ideological onslaught from educators who are more concerned with creating “good citizens” than teaching them real knowledge. And it’s time for a new approach. I’m running a program for high school and college students this summer because of a first grade perplexity — and Ayn Rand. When I was kid … Continue reading “Students Need Mental Ammunition”

A little recognized influence on the Montessori Movement by Marsha Familaro Enright

originally published in Montessori Leadership “Help me to do it myself,” self-responsibility, peace:  these are fundamentals of the Montessori philosophy.  How many of you know that another, highly influential thinker with these same beliefs has had a huge influence on the Montessori movement:  Ayn Rand?  Today, there are thousands of parents, teachers and heads of school … Continue reading “A little recognized influence on the Montessori Movement by Marsha Familaro Enright”

Schools for Individualists: TNI’s exclusive interview with Marsha Enright, by Sara Pentz

Marsha Familaro Enright has been attracted by the pleasures and problems of education since the third grade. Trained in biology and psychology, she has written research articles on psychology, neuropsychology, development, and education for a number of publications. She founded the Council Oak Montessori School near Chicago in 1990 and has served as its president … Continue reading “Schools for Individualists: TNI’s exclusive interview with Marsha Enright, by Sara Pentz”