On the recordJune 18, 2010
I wish to take a few minutes to recognize three individuals, two of whom are no longer with us, and one is a man who just retired from a life of dedication to his community and family. The first is a friend of mine who passed away several weeks ago, an individual who made a wonderful contribution to our country. Doug Gravel was a wonderful friend, a great champion of American education, and a person who attracted a legion of friends, supporters, and followers throughout his life. Although he never lived for fame or even for recognition, Doug Gravel was instrumental in shaping the way we teach our children in this country, from one end of our Nation to the other. The Montessori method of teaching, familiar to many people, was developed a century ago by Maria Montessori in Italy. It was designed as a system to educate the whole child by empowering children to guide their own development. It encourages kids to develop their own unique personalities and fosters their curiosity in the world around them while removing environmental obstacles to their progress.
