“If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.” [1]

“If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.” [1] | Association Montessori Internationale

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Friday 16th October 2026

There is a fascination with transformation. We marvel at the extraordinary changes as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, tadpoles become frogs and children grow into adults. Each stage has its process, purpose and duration.

A Monarch butterfly will emerge from its chrysalis in 10 to14 days, the common frog will metamorphose over 14 weeks and a child develops over 18 years before reaching the fourth plane and maturity . Responsiveness to the environment is part of each stage of development and may hasten or delay the journey.

Many of us are drawn to stories of those moments when a dramatic insight changes the course of a life. Whether a eureka moment or a deeply personal realisation [2], such experiences can open our eyes to new possibilities and transform our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. Fully understanding what causes pivotal moments is complex but there seems general agreement that following through to build new patterns of behaviour usually takes time, effort and support.

But people also make intentional decisions in less extreme circumstances that lead to changes in lifestyle and personal growth. The global running phenomenon From Couch to 5k began in 1996 and in 2024, in the UK alone, 8.7m people registered runs using the NHS app . Research suggests a long-term rise in the number of people around the world engaging in mindfulness and meditation. It is estimated that the number of yoga studios in China tripled between 2017 and 2021 as part of broader initiatives to increase the health of individuals in the country .

A firm belief in human potential suggests we can all start paving a new road for ourselves whenever we choose.

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking” [3]

Fundamental change is not a quick fix. Research has suggested that it takes around ten weeks for a relatively simple new behaviour to become a habit . An AMI 3-6 Diploma course can be completed in 55 weeks [4] which is about the same time as getting a Commercial Pilot License in some countries, while NASA’s Astronaut Candidate training takes two years. The processes and outcomes are different, but the lesson is that bringing new perspectives to your life or preparing for a new role takes time. The greater the ambition, the longer the path.

In a recent LinkedIn comment renowned neuroscientist Adele Diamond argued: “… the training of a teacher's character and spirit takes time. It cannot be rushed. Cutting training time significantly means that trainees will not have undergone the personal growth and study of themselves needed to be what a Montessori educator can truly be.” We are in full agreement.

Our own research shows that AMI graduates value having outstanding trainers and would often like even more time to enjoy the personal and professional development their course provided. They are welcomed by schools for their depth of understanding but also because of their personal empathy with Montessori principles. Several colleagues working with founders and administrators on the AMI Montessori School Leadership Certificate have written on the need for alignment of values, practices and attitudes to develop a strong school culture .

The centrality of the prepared adult to Montessori teaching also means that the evaluation and accreditation of teacher-training and in-school implementation reflects the values of high-quality Montessori, as well as its scientific basis. The work of a teacher is best done in an environment that is supportive and conducive to the successful delivery of Montessori education. It is one reason that our developing Global School Accreditation process considers whole-school principles and culture alongside quantitative assessments.

Personal development and enhancing skills are the work of a lifetime. We are all familiar with the claim that 10,000 hours of practice is needed to achieve mastery but the authors of the original report note that their study counted “deliberate practice” with a particular reference to “the guidance of a master teacher.” Our ambition is that every course and all professional development allows time for reflection that reinforces understanding of Montessori’s complex educational and humanitarian philosophy.

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” [5]

Maria Montessori noted that it was easier to form character in the childhood years but was confident of the lifelong ability of people to determine their direction and actions. She was, however, demanding in her expectations as she made the prepared adult a key part of her thinking on child education. The preparation and “study of one’s self” (The Absorbent Mind p. 132) meant nothing less than calling on the aspiring teacher to undertake a profound process of self-examination and transformation, spiritually, physically and intellectually.

Many people choosing Montessori training have made a conscious decision to change their lives and their careers. Our experience shows this process is supported and accelerated by high-quality training that includes immersion in study, observations, demonstrations, supervised practice, material work, discussion and preparation for the rigours of the classroom. Spending time alongside like-minded peers and being guided by experienced trainers creates an environment for intellectual development alongside self-reflection and discovery.

Making significant changes is challenging and the courage shown by our students is always inspirational. Transformation can be deeply moving, we are led to question familiar beliefs and face our biases and aspects of ourselves we may not have recognised before. As we develop new courses and new methods of teaching to provide accessible options we retain the critically important dimension of theory alongside spiritual and philosophical development.

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” [6]

In a 2005 conference speech, with the title “ A Change Within: Removing Obstacles to Development ”, I commented that Montessori educators have “a revolutionary purpose.” It sounded good but looking back I may not have been ambitious or precise enough. Revolutions sometimes result in little underlying change.

What we are seeking is a metamorphosis that creates a new era of human behaviour and engagement – a change I considered across seven dimensions in a previous article . Montessori herself noted that, “Adults must above all be educated…so that they may change their behaviour toward the generations that come after them.” (Education and Peace). The wisdom of her words has become ever clearer as we understand a world where the needs of humanity and the planet are inextricably intertwined and that it is adults who make most major decisions.

Maria Montessori wrote of the teacher that, “Not words but virtues are her main qualifications” (Discovery of the Child) and in my conference speech I reflected how remarkable it was to conceive, as I wrote, “an education that relies on the virtues of the educator”. In retrospect I think that is the responsibility taken on by all committed Montessori educators and it is a principle we can share. Perhaps the next step is to consider how our movement goes about persuading everyone to consider their personal transformation as the quickest way to building a humanity that can rely on the virtues of each individual.

Lynne Lawrence, AMI Executive Director

[1] The title of this article quotes Dolly Parton and is a tribute to her work in establishing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library that has gifted over 330 million free books to children worldwide. In the context of wider transformation, she is also credited with saying “If you can’t change the whole wide world, change your own little world. Maybe that will kinda reach out and do some good.”

[2] One example is the story of actor Sir Anthony Hopkins who has talked about the moment and reason he decided to stop drinking but also how he found help to do so over time. He “celebrated” 50 years of sobriety in 2025.

[3] Maria Montessori from Education and Peace (p.30)

[4] This is a typical example, but the exact length of a course is determined by many factors including the mode of delivery. Current examples with course locations, lengths and formats can be found at https://montessori-ami.org/training-programmes/diploma-courses .

[5] This sub-title is from Eleanor Roosevelt’s 1960 book You Learn by Living. She was the longest serving first lady of the United States during the four terms of her husband’s presidency. She was the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights and led the committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

[6] The whole quote is “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” It was said by Barack Obama, 44th US president, during a speech on February 5, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois after the evening’s primary nominating contest.