Abstract:

The article introduces the principles of Montessori education while it more concretely focuses on the principle of free choice. The authors present partial results of a quantitative research in which the questionnaire was used as the main research method. Its items were focused on the principle of free choice and on the perception of freedom itself. The questionnaire was presented to teachers of Montessori kindergartens and to the parents whose children attend this kindergarten. The results were analysed after a deep study of literature which deals with the philosophy of freedom and Montessori education. The aim of the research was to find out whether the respondents perceive the difference between the principle of free choice and freedom in general. Additionally, the authors wanted to find out if the perception of this field is the same between the teachers and the parents, or if there are differences between those two groups; and if the parents whose children attend this kindergarten are aware of the application of the principle of free choice. The research bases a deeper research of the principle of free choice. The next aim is to examine how is the principle of free choice applied by children of the stated Montessori kindergarten via the method of observation, while the authors also want to focus on the children who switch from Montessori kindergarten to a common basic school.

Keywords:

Montessori education, principle of free choice, freedom, pre-school, kindergarten, kindergarten teacher, parents.