THE MONTESSORI EDUCATION – 1

ASYNCHRONOUS TASK – 2 : Who are those Winner of Nobel Peace Prize in years: 1949, 1950 and 1951
where Dr. Maria Montessori was nominated.
•HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
The Nobel Peace Prize and the other Nobel Prizes were established by the
Swedish inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel through his last will.
When the Swedish businessman Alfred Nobel passed away in 1896, he left
behind what was then one of the world’s largest private fortunes. In his last
will Nobel declared that the whole of his remaining fortune of 31, 5 million
Swedish crowns was to be invested in safe securities and should constitute a
fund "the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes
to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest
benefit on mankind"
•WILL
The will specified in which fields the prizes should be awarded – physics, chemistry, medicine or
physiology, literature and peace – and which criteria the respective prize committees should apply when
choosing their prize recipients. According to the will the Nobel Peace Prize was to be awarded “to the
person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition
or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses.”
•NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE
Alfred Nobel’s will declared that the Nobel Peace Prize was to be awarded by a committee of five persons
selected by the Norwegian Storting (parliament). The Storting accepted the assignment in April 1897, and
the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Storting was set up in August of the same year. Read more about
the Norwegian Nobel Committee (as it is now known) here.
•NOBEL FOUNDATION
In Sweden, however, Nobel's will triggered a lengthy legal battle with parts of the Nobel family. It was not
until this conflict had been resolved, and financial matters had been satisfactorily arranged through the
establishment of the Nobel Foundation in Sweden in 1900, that the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the
other prize-awarding bodies could begin their work.
•FIRST AWARD
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. The Peace Prize for that year was shared between the
Frenchman Frédéric Passy and the Swiss Jean Henry Dunant.
 WINNERS OF NOBEL PEACE PRIZE REASONS OF WINNING

The Lord Boyd-Orr It was awarded to Lord (John) Boyd Orr

(1880–1971). He won the of Brechin "for his lifelong effort to
Nobel Peace Prize in year conquer hunger and want, thereby helping
1949 and came from the to remove a major cause of military
Country of United conflict and war."
Kingdom.

The Ralph Bunche (1904 It was awarded to Ralph Bunche "for his
– 1971). He won the Noble work as mediator in Palestine in 1948-
Peace Prize in year 1950 1949."
and came from the
Country of United States.

Léon Jouhaux (1879 – It was awarded to Léon Jouhaux "for

1954). He won the Noble having devoted his life to the fight against
Peace Prize in year 1951 war through the promotion of social
and came from the justice and brotherhood among men and
Country of France. nations."

•TIMELINE

 1901 – First Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Jean Henry Dunant and Frédéric Passy.
 1904 – Norwegian Nobel Institute established to occupy Henrik Ibsens gate 51 (current address)
from 1905.
 1937 – Change in criteria for Nobel Committee members. Turbulence around the Nobel Peace Prize
awarded to Carl von Ossietzky moves the Norwegian parliament to decide that sitting members of
government may no longer sit on the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
 1947 – Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony moves to University of Oslo Aula. The Grand Hall at the
Norwegian Nobel Institute has reached its capacity, and the Award Ceremony is moved to the much
larger University Aula.
 1978 – Change in criteria for Nobel Committee members. The Norwegian Parliament decide that
incumbent members of parliament may no longer sit on the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
 1990 – Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony moves to Oslo City Hall. Yet again the Award Ceremony
outgrows it's venue. It is moved to Oslo City Hall which seats 1000 people.
 1991 – Research fellow program. The research fellow program is established.
 2005 – Nobel Peace Center. The Nobel Peace Center opens.

B. State your opinion on why Dr. Maria Montessori did not win the Nobel Peace Prize in that 3
consecutive years?
First of all, in the article of Camillo Grazzini, he shared his personal thoughts on the conferment of the
Nobel Peace Prize. Hence, he considers the fact that Maria Montessori was never awarded the Prize “A
Lost Opportunity”. Although he concludes his reflections by stating “...with or without a Nobel Prize for
Peace, Maria Montessori remains great for her exceptional and positive notion of peace.
As a student, we all know that Dr. Maria Montessori was best known for her philosophy and method of
educating children from birth to adolescence. Her educational method is still in use today in a number of
public as well as private schools throughout the world.

SOURCES :

Historical Background of Noble Peace Prize (2010) retrieved from;

https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/History/summary
Dr. Maria Montessori’s issue in Nobel Peace Prize retrieved from;
https://montessori.org.au/node/16271