Maria Montessori became the first female physician in Italy.  Her practice led her to study how children learn.  Shifting her focus to the young child, she went back to school and studied psychology, philosophy, and anthropology.  Her desire to work with children was so strong that she founded the first “Children’s House”.  What ultimately became the Montessori Method of education developed there, based upon Montessori’s scientific observations of these children’s almost effortless abilities to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials.

Marie Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times–in 1949, 1950, and 1951.