Fine Designs" from Italy: Montessori Education and the Reggio Approach

I taly is not a huge country, nor one that dominates research in scientific areas like biotechnology or computer sci-ence; but in the particular field of early childhood, it can be described as a kind of gifted, creative giant. Italians have al-ways revered beauty, architecture, paint-ing, cuisine, and creative design. In a similar fusion of art and science, they have produced two of the 20th century's most innovative and influential leaders in early education, along with their methods of pedagogy and philosophies of educa-tion. The two figures were Maria Mon-tessori (1 870-1952) and Loris Malaguzzi (1920-1994). Both Montessori education and th