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“I think that adolescents should not only work but also receive payment for their work. This may sound scandalous because money is considered as something sordid. But self-respect should be gained for the seriousness of work done and a realisation of what work and money mean. For, to gain money by one’s own effort is a sign that one has done something useful, otherwise money is just something that the family gives them and they become parasites. And which self-respecting person wants to be a parasite?

– Maria Montessori, The Four Planes of Development

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I never thought I’d be doing homework again, but here we are.

I recently enrolled in the Association Montessori Internationale’s adolescent teaching program, where I’ll spend the next 17 months as a student. While many know that Montessori graduates include innovators like Jeff Bezos, Steph Curry, and Taylor Swift, my interest runs deeper than the method’s impressive alumni.

Why Go Back to School?

The decision stems from two core convictions:

1. Building from First Principles

While the Schools of Entrepreneuring takes an unconventional approach to education, innovation doesn’t mean rejecting established wisdom. Instead, it demands a thorough understanding of what works, why it works, and how we can build upon proven foundations to meet today’s challenges.

Over the past year, I’ve immersed myself in understanding how things work —conducting hundreds of interviews with teachers about their daily realities, the best ways to help students learn, studying various teaching methodologies, and analyzing education incentive structures. I’ve devoured books, research papers, and case studies.

But something was missing: direct experience.

Returning to school to master the fundamentals, observe classrooms in action, and eventually teach students myself isn’t just about gathering information—it’s about developing the deep understanding necessary to create an unrivaled education system.

2. Finding Alignment with Montessori’s Vision

Before committing to this program, I dove into Maria Montessori’s original writings. Her work captivated me not just for its content, but for its clarity and power. She writes with an incisive precision that cuts through educational theory to reveal fundamental truths about human development.

“It is enforced work that makes one tired. But if one can assimilate the work spiritually, that is, work in such a way as to satisfy the spirit, then work becomes play, one feels stronger, happier and more rested because of it.”

Montessori’s approach wasn’t built on trends or tradition, but on careful observation of how children naturally learn and develop.

Her core insights—about human adaptability, our capacity to create both physical tools and abstract systems, our need for independence, and the nobility of work as service to others—deeply resonate with our vision for entrepreneurial education.

Building on Shared Foundations

My early studies have revealed several Montessori principles that will strengthen our entrepreneurial education model:

Learning Through Real Experience

The Montessori method’s emphasis on hands-on learning mirrors our belief practical entrepreneurial experience. You learn by doing – not by listening. Instead of theoretical business discussions, our students will build and operate real ventures, learning through direct engagement with markets and customers.

The Guide Approach

Montessori teachers serve as guides rather than instructors, carefully creating environments that enable discovery and growth. This aligns perfectly with our vision where coaches support students through real-world challenges rather than prescribing solutions or asking questions to which they already know the answer.

Mixed-Age Learning Communities

Montessori classrooms combine age groups, allowing younger children to learn from older peers while older students reinforce their knowledge through teaching. We’ll adapt this proven approach to create mentor relationships between experienced and newer student entrepreneurs.

Intrinsic Motivation

Both approaches recognize that genuine learning stems from internal drive rather than external pressure. Just as Montessori environments tap into children’s natural curiosity, the Schools of Entrepreneuring will connect students with authentic problems that spark their passion for creating solutions.

An Open Philosophy

While Montessori principles will significantly inform our approach, we’re not building a Montessori school.

I’m more convinced than ever that an open mind and the willingness to draw from multiple proven approaches will serve our students best. We’re studying effective elements from Progressive Education, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Harkness, and other innovative methodologies.

Our goal isn’t to adhere to any single doctrine but to create an unrivaled education system that develops smarter, more capable young people. We’ll draw on centuries of collective wisdom while remaining flexible enough to incorporate new insights as they emerge.

The Path Forward

As I progress through my Montessori training, I’m increasingly convinced that understanding learning at its most fundamental level is crucial for meaningful educational innovation. By combining established insights into human development with modern entrepreneurial skills and technologies, we’re working to create an educational model that:

• Respects students’ natural development and interests
• Builds real-world capabilities through practical experience
• Nurtures internal motivation and self-directed learning
• Develops leaders who solve meaningful problems

By grounding our innovation in established principles of human development and learning, we will create an educational experience that is both transformative and enduring for students and society.

Now, back to my homework.