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The early 1950's the cultural climate in America began to change, At this time the society became more child centered than it had ever been and in it's wake came a discontent with the traditional American education, hence alternatives were sort. Among those who wanted something better was a charismatic, well educated, and a tireless advocate for children, the person of Nancy McCormick Rambusch, a young aspiring teacher, who had just aquired a masters degree in early chidhood education .
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This desire for a better approach to educating American children drove Nancy to Paris in 1953 to attend the 10th International Montessori congress and there she met with the then head of the AMI. Mario Montessori, Maria's son. He urged Nancy to take the course work in Montessor ieducation and bring back to the US. She did and in a few years was her children and others the Montessori lessons in her New York Apartment.
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In 1956 Nancy relocated from New York to Greenwich CT. Here the Montessori wave gained full momentum.In collaboration with some prominent parents who were deeply involved in their children's education, the Whitby school was founded in 1958.This is the first Montessori school in the U.S after initial flurry of interest in the Montessori movement in the early 20th century.Nancy was chosen by the board to be the head of school. By 1959, Mario Montessori appointed Her the US. rep. For the AMI
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In 1960, AMS was born with the vigourous help of parent advocates, Nancy formed this society whose goals mirrowed those of the (AMI) which was to support efforts to create schools, develop teacher education programs, and publicize the value of Montessori education.This she achieved with the 1961 May12th edition of the Time magazine which featured Rumbusch,the Whitby school and the Montessori revival. Bringing more publicity to Montessori was her book Learning to learn in published in 1962
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Still in the 1961 The AMS garnared more publicity with publication by News week, NewYork Times and the Saurday evening Posts. From the on set Rumbusch and AMS had made it a requirement that all teacher educators have a college degree since the where working towards the validation and recognition of the AMS in mainstream educational sector, AMS coursework and curriculum were broadened to allow for these recognition and inclusion to take place
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At this Time alot of people. especially parents wanted to be a
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At this time period, the Ams had a growing audience and alot of people, especially parents wanted to be trained on the Montessori cousrework. Demand for trained Montessori educators wieghed it's supply. McDormick a partner in the Montessori movemnet with Rumbusch suggeste that Montessori was not meant just for parents and their family alone but for the totality of American children. By early 1970's some public school boards were lending a ear to the AMS, through certain advivating parents.
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From the birth of The AMs till date, major break throughs into mainstream education has been achieved, Norminal nursery focus on the social development of children at age 5 has now been ditched for more attention on the cognitive , which was a strategy imbibed from the Montessori movement. Still futher work is being done and will be done ,till Montessori reaches every child.
