Did you know that this woman, Hilda Rothchild, who is recognized as the Mother of the Montessori movement in American brought the Montessori method to The New School over 50 years ago?
Hilda Rothschild left Germany when the Nazis came to power, and she moved to France where she studied with Dr. Maria Montessori. In 1941 Hilda fled Paris and settled in Cincinnati where she spent the rest of her life introducing Montessori methods to schools in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In 1965, Hilda founded the country’s first Montessori teacher training school at Xavier University.
Not long after The New School opened its doors in 1970 as a counterculture school and the first to offer after-school care for working parents, Hilda introduced the Montessori method to The New School. From then until now, we have been leaders in Montessori methods, achieving full accreditation from both the American Montessori Society and ISACS. (Only 15% of AMS member schools in the country achieve full AMS accreditation. We are proud to be among those few.)
Because of Hilda Rothschild’s influence, Cincinnati is a major center for Montessori education with the country’s first Montessori high school and more than 30 Montessori schools, including public, private and religious options. We are proud to have had the Mother of Montessori education in America shaping our school and community all those years ago with her passion and wisdom.
Comments 4
I was a student of Hilda’s when I started my Montessori Master’s Education at Xavier University in the summer of 1979. This picture takes my breath away because I immediately recognized her and all the memories of my time with Hilda came tsunami-style, coming back into my mind were our conversations, my time with her, her wisdom and her classes: “Does anyone know the name of the famous paleoanthropologist who discovered that humans evolved in Africa?” For some reason I was the only one in the class who knew the answer, and she began to look at me in a funny/interesting way. I became her “chauffeur” to Montessori events because she didn’t have a car. I was honored to do this because this was someone who actually knew MARIA MONTESSORI and she showed an interest in me! She also did not make me feel bad because my car was a mess. In her strong German accent she would tell me that one’s car was where one could be messy. I think now that she was just trying to make me feel better – I was all of 25 years old and my car was a mess…
Hilda Rothschild is a legend in Cincinnati, and when I knew her, I had never heard of TNSM. I only knew that Hilda was instrumental in bringing Montessori to Cincinnati. I had interned at The Xavier Lab School and at Sands Montessori, and knew Cincinnati was one of two places to get a Master’s in Montessori Education, which is why my husband of 3 years and I moved here. My oldest of four kids, Catherine, was born in 1980, and it is such a cosmic dance that I taught at TNSM from 1996 – 2015 and Catherine now teaches at TNSM and my 3 grandkids go to this incredible school. So, did I know Hilda – and Marta and Beth and Martha? Yes! They are giants in the Montessori Movement, and I consider them all to be my mentors and my friends. I believe in the Montessori Philosophy, and the impact it has had in my life is immeasurable. We are so fortunate that TNSM continues to be a vibrant and contributing oasis where children can relax their shoulders and feel safe and aware that their voice will be heard and respected, yet guided and enlightened.
I was a student of Hilda’s at Xavier in 1974. She had such a calm presence about her. She spoke to you like you were the only person in the room. She spoke calmly, with thought, and we hung on her every word. She was kind, gracious, caring, and firm. The Hilda Rothschild Memorial Old Fashioned Rose Garden was dedicated in 1985 in Ault Park- search for the plaque with Hilda’s name. A remarkable, self-assured, kind teacher I will always remember as “living” the Montessori philosophy.
I met Hilda Rothschild when I was Training CMTE/Ithaca NY in ‘77. I remember her saying that Dr Montessori said that all children really need is sand and water. I’ve never forgotten that. It reminds me that it’s all about the child’s experience w life, not “stuff”.
I am so happy to read about Hilda. I too remember her fondly. She was an amazing teacher to me while studying Montessori at Xavier. She was very kind and respectful while observing me in the classroom during my internship. And guess where it was? Part of my student teaching was at the New School!
Hilda came to observe and always had so many interesting notes for me to study afterwards. She encouraged me to “let the children play” versus my attempting to guide their activity. I can still hear her giving me ideas and directions in her strong accent. I was blessed to be taught by her and to have been with her so often. I believe that would have been around 1977. She was quite a lady whom I will not forget.