News Editor Carol Parker Trott looks at two visions of schooling, Montessori and a proposed "Academy of Tomorrow''. One, Montessori Academy has thrived with its Learn As You Go philosophy. In the other, controversial educator Muriel Wade Smith wants to build a school which will develop future leaders of the Country.

Children between the ages of three and six sit engrossed in a variety of activities, including computer lessons, reading and problem solving.

Perhaps that's not an unusual scene for primary school.

But the teacher has left the room and you can hear a pin drop.

It was such a situation which helped Montessori Academy PTA president Mike Sullivan understand "Montessori magic''.

Mr. Sullivan is one of many parents who fully advocate Montessori's philosophy.

The school's philosophy is based on century-old teaching methods of Dr. Maria Montessori, in keeping with current research strategies of education.

The goal of Montessori education is to provide an academic programme that encourages the development of a "caring, competent individual, capable of independent problem solving and responsible choice''.

"With supportive, individualised guidance children are encouraged to learn at their own pace through interaction with developmentally appropriate materials'', new principal Margaret Hallett pointed out.

And Montessori prides itself on offering the following: a proven standard of academic excellence; a student-teacher ratio of 12:1; an internationally recognised curriculum which is globally transferable; exposure to a foreign language from age three; a unique learning environment that recognises individual differences and learning styles; and a school that is committed to providing the individual with the chance to achieve his or her full potential.

And Mr. Sullivan and other parents who spoke with The Royal Gazette , shortly before the end of the school year, attested to this.

"We moved here a couple of years ago from the US because of my job,'' he said. "My four-year-old is a self-directive child. We wanted to find somewhere where she could learn and receive direction in a less structured environment.

"I heard parents talk about the Montessori magic. And we knew we had found it. After a few weeks we noticed that our daughter had learned a lot.'' This, Mr. Sullivan said, included self-discipline, respect and responsibility.

His seven-year-old son, who joined the school at the beginning of June has also adjusted well, he added.

"He's learning with renewed interest,'' Mr. Sullivan said.

Helen Orchard, a Bermudian who became with familiar with the Montessori method in Connecticut where she lived before recently returning home, echoed similar sentiments.

"I just felt the experience would give them the best education in that they are able to learn at their own pace,'' said the mother, who has a three-and six-year-old at Montessori.

"There is nothing to hold them back.'' Mrs. Orchard pointed out that Montessori is a "whole education'' experience which prepares students academically, socially, and emotionally for the real world.

"There are many different paths to follow,'' she said. "Whatever problems they encounter, they learn to handle. They have the skills to handle anything.'' "They are not teaching children facts, they're teaching concepts,'' Mark Tremblay, who has two boys at Montessori, pointed out. "It is that conceptual learning that they are applying.'' Noting that he moved to Bermuda almost six years ago and his son Daniel has been attending Montessori for the past five years, Mr. Tremblay said: "My son at seven years can put together a sentence better than I could at 21.'' Montessori's three-year class levels (three to six; six to nine; and nine to 12 years old) had also helped Daniel -- who was considered the baby of the class at other schools because his birthday fell in December -- to experience what it was like to be one of the big boys in the class, he said.

"We appreciate the emphasis of learning from the concrete to the abstract then concrete.'' Mr. Tremblay noted that as a result, Daniel could understand so-called complex issues and events. He was also able to work out mathematics problems easier.

Chairperson of the school's board of governors Margie Gordyk said this was because Montessori prepared students to compete well locally and throughout the world.

She noted Montessori students consistently scored high on academic subjects.

Last year the school's grade three students scored higher than 97 percent of their counterparts in the US and Bermuda on the California Achievement Tests (CATs). They earned percentages of 90 or above in reading, language, and mathematics.

But Mrs. Gordyk pointed out that the school was not all work and no play. Its 138 students were encouraged to excel in all areas of life, she said, and they did.

"They get French twice a week, music, gym and art,'' she said. "They compete in all sports, including swimming, tennis, cricket, and golf. So it is a full curriculum.'' Noting some of their accomplishments, she said the chess team placed first in the Bermuda Interschool Chess Tournament; student Julian Fletcher won an award in the Premier's Essay Contest; and four or five students received prizes in the The Royal Gazette's Hurricane Art Contest.

"For a small school they are doing well,'' she added.

With plans for the school to move to Devonshire next year and take in twice the number of students when fully completed, Mrs. Hallett said: "We have a sense of history and where we need to be going.

"One possibility is we may move toward a toddler programme for children from 18 months to three years old,''' she revealed. "At the other end of the spectrum is our hope to move into the middle school programme. A lot of people have great interest to have their children educated by the Montessori method at least to the middle school level.

"And we have begun research into establishing an international baccalaureate.'' Since the school will continue to operate from the National Trust's Tivoli property in Warwick for the next year, Mrs. Hallett said staff will do their best to ensure that children continue to receive the best.

NEW Montessori Academy principal Annette Hallett helps (from top) Ceola Wade, Madeleine Marinella and Daniella Hinton with their work.

Graphic file name: MONHEAD