Maria Montessori, the first female to receive a doctorate in medicine in Italy, became one of the greatest pioneers in the study of child development. After her 1896 graduation in Rome, Montessori worked with mentally challenged children. Her rigorous scientific analysis, coupled with her natural compassion for the uniqueness of the individual child, attracted widespread attention. Her unparalleled success garnered an invitation for a university lectureship in pedagogy. These now famous lectures soon became academic models for Italian, and eventually, international education. While gratified by the academic accolades of her pedagogical peers, in 1908, Dr. Montessori began using her unprecedented approach with a group of children living in the slums of San Lorenzo, Rome. Within a year, the achievement of the students solidified the merits of Dr. Montessori's approach to education. Internationally known individuals who began their education as Montessori students include:
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