MUCH OF WHAT MONTESSORI DISCOVERED ABOUT THE CHILD CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AN ENVIRONMENT WITHIN A SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL ATMOSPHERE OF TRUE NON-VIOLENCE. IN ORDER FOR THE PERSONALITY OF THE CHILD TO UNFOLD S/HE REQUIRES AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FREE FROM MANY THINGS AND ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS MUST BE VIOLENCE. VIOLENCE IS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL BUT IS REALIZED IN MANY OTHER FORMS SUCH AS ADULT PRESSURE AND THE RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT, SPEECH, SOCIALIZING, AND CHOOSING ONE'S OWN WORK. CHILDREN MUST ALWAYS BE ALLOWED TO BE CHILDREN. WHAT WAS NON-VIOLENCE TO DR. MARIA MONTESSORI? IT WAS THE MEANS TO ACHIEVE THE END, THE RELEASE OF THE TRUE HUMAN BEING OF THE CHILD FULFILLING THE GOAL OF A NEW AND BETTER SOCIETY. NON-VIOLENCE WAS/IS THE WAY TO ACHIEVE TRUE AND AUTHENTIC PEACE.
