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An Alternative to “No Excuses”: Considering Montessori as Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
- Journal of Negro Education
- Journal of Negro Education
- Volume 92, Number 3, Summer 2023
- pp. 301-324
- Article
- Additional Information
Abstract:
To address inequality, philanthropists support “no excuses” schools in majority-Black low-income communities. While the model has raised achievement, its practices are problematic from a social justice lens. Montessori is a highly contrasting model, and over 25% of public Montessori students are Black. Here we examine whether Montessori is a viable alternative school model for Black children. After showing the theoretical alignment between Montessori and culturally responsive pedagogy, we review studies of Montessori outcomes, then we present a new mixed-methods study of 12 adults who attended a primarily Black Montessori preschool. Their descriptions suggest that their lived experience in Montessori reflects a culturally responsive pedagogy. The evidence suggests Montessori schooling avoids the concerns raised by no excuses schools while delivering positive outcomes.