Montessori teachers are frequently referred to as directresses because it is a better summing up of what they do - they direct the child towards learning opportunities rather than teach. The staff in a Montessori school should be calm and unhurried and should move around the room discreetly and quietly. They should be responsive to the needs of individual children who should not have to wait until they become bored or upset before they get attention but vigilance is maintained in a low-key way so the children do not feel as if they are being "policed".
The teacahers should never shout, never lose their tempers, never smack, shake or push a child or even speak crossly. They should be pleasant and polite, firm without anger and be able to deal with a misdemeanour with sympathy and assistance rather than with punishment. All children should be shown respect, never bumiliated or laughed at, and their remarks should be listened to seriously and answered thoughtfully and courteously. By necessity this is just a sample of the things which go on in a Montessori classroom. The range of activities will vary from therm to term and each piece of equipment has a teaching purpose and a story to tell of its own.
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