Montessori World Educational Institute
Montessori World Educational Institute
Founders
Margaret Homfray
Robert L. Blodget, Ed.D.
Founding Contributors
Phoebe Child
Edna Andriano
April 6,1908 - March 7, 1996
Miss Homfray first studied with Dr. Montessori in London in 1929. She then proceeded on to Italy to take the International course offerred by Dr. Montessori in Rome. She then remained in contact with Dr. Montessori through the 1930s, attending conferences and working to set up a Montessori Center in London. After World War II, Dr. Montessori lived with Miss Homfray and Phoebe Child while Dr. Montessori gave the 1946 London Course. Miss Homfray and Miss Child and Dr. Montessori discussed plans for establishing a London Montessori Center. Dr. Montessori then authorized Miss Homfray and Miss Child to provide Montessori training and sign Montessori diplomas. After Dr. Montessori died in 1952 the London Center was named The St. Nicholas Training Centre for the Montessori Method of Education. Miss Homfray and Miss Child then went on to help establish the St. Nicholas Training Center in Ireland and then the Montessori World Educational Institute in America and Australia. Read More
May 21, 1910 - February 13, 1990.
Phoebe Child first studied with Dr. Montessori in London in 1929. She then went to Italy to take the International course offerred by Dr. Montessori in Rome. After World War II, Dr. Montessori then lived with Miss Child and Miss Homfray and while giving Montessori lectures at night. Dr. Montessori then authorized Miss Homfray and Miss Child to provide Montessori training and sign Montessori diplomas. Miss Child specialized in working with elementary school aged children and would spend weekends traveling across the English Channel to discuss curricular ideas with Dr. Montessori. Later, Miss Child came to California to support the establishment of the Montessori World Educational Institute. Read More
June 7, 1909 - December 31, 2004
Edna Andriano attended Dr. Montessori's lectures in California in 1915. She later took the 1929 London Course and was then invited by Dr. Montessori to serve as Translator for the English speaking students for the 1930 International Course in Rome. Dr. Montessori then asked her to become Directoress of the Casa Dei Bambini Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga school that she would open in Italy. She then returned home to California and ran a successful Montessori school with her Mother. Edna continued the school until 1978 at which time she retired. Over the years, she remained active in the Montessori community. She corresponded with Dr. Montessori until Dr. Montessori's death. Then, in 1979 she donated the translations of the 1915 course and the 1930 course to the Montessori World Educational Institute along with pictures and Montessori materials given to her Mother by Dr. Montessori. Read More
Robert Blodget graduated from Willamette University in 1965 with a double major in Social Science and Journalism with an emphasis in Economics and an Oregon Teaching Credential. He then taught 7 years in the Monmouth/Independence School District. In 1972 became the Director of Research on Teaching for the ANISA project at the Center for the Study of Human Potential at the University of Massachusetts and co-administered a lab school with Nancy Rambusch. In 1974 Dr. Blodget joined the faculty at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. He studied Montessori with Margaret Homfray and Phoebe Child at UCSB and then arranged for Margaret Homfray to teach Montessori at Cal Poly. He then worked with Margaret Homfray and Phoebe Child to establish the Montessori World Educational Institute. Read More