Mountain Pathways Montessori Middle School:  Vision Becomes Reality by Glenn Grizzard, 12-15 teacher The mission of the Mountain Pathways adolescent program is to engage the students in pursuits that integrate academics with a solid connection to the greater whole of society and their world. The students will incorporate Montessori principles, ambition and ability toward the ultimate goal of an improved world for everyone. Montessori philosophy divides the adolescent syllabus into three areas: The opening of routes to self-expression to develop the personality, Education toward the formation of “character,” and finally the field of “general education,” which is further divided into: The Study of Living Things, The Study of the History of Humankind, and the Building Up of Human Civilization. So far, we’re well on our way. The 12-15 class has opened routes to self-expression by way of a project to create an informational video to promote MPMS to the outside world. After a visit from a professional videographer, the class divided itself into specified roles in the production from director to editor to cameraman and more. The producers have neared completion on a storyboard and have completed auditions for a narrator. A script is being formulated by other members and the editors have been practicing with the computer software. Despite the foul weather, progress has been steady, and the school community has been very supportive. We’ve been working on our characters in our morning meeting which we call “Society” time. Over the past few weeks, the students have been taking turns leading the session, and have all met with great success. Just the other day, one student had the group listen to the song “Imagine,” and pursued a highly intellectual and passionate discussion that ranged from the role of religion in our world to the need for national borders. Our general education focus has been both interdisciplinary and philosophical. In the field of science, we have been taking notes and working them into stories on the path from the Big Bang to the development of planet Earth. We’ve worked this knowledge into a discussion of atoms and matter and gravity’s pull. It’s been heavy. On the Humanities side, we’ve been reading various creation myths from around the world and commenting on their similarities and differences. We’ve since moved into discussion of the transition of the human species over the last five million years. We’ve talked about Australopithecus, Homo habilis and Homo erectus, not to even mention ol’ Homo sapiens, but we’ll have plenty of time for them. Our geography study has been forming the foundation for the fundamental Montessori adolescent concept, that of connecting the student to the community at large. Each student has been given a map of Watauga County and another of North Carolina. We’ve found our homes and we’ve mapped routes across the state. In true hands-on Montessori style, we are taking the approach that knowing the countries that the Congo River passes through is secondary to knowing how to get from Boone to Blowing Rock. If we can just get a van, we’ll really be in business! We’ve integrated all of these concepts with art and stories and poetry, and taken an individualized approach whenever possible. We’re building a great program from the ground up, and we appreciate all the help and support we’ve received from the community.