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Families in Melbourne’s north-east have been left distraught by their school’s decision to cut its alternative Montessori program.
Templestowe College has offered the Montessori Adolescent Program since 2012, which ran alongside the mainstream classes at the school.
The program is for children aged 12 to 15 and offers students more choice in their learning than mainstream models, as well as hands-on lessons and activities.
In a letter to parents Templestowe College principal Daryl Bennett said a significant drop in Montessori enrolments as well as the cost of the program and staffing problems had led to the decision.
“The Montessori Adolescent Program (MAP) has held a place within Templestowe College for more than a decade, but it has now reached a point where the program is not sustainable moving forward,” Bennett said in the letter, seen by The Age.
From 2027, the college will no longer offer the year 7 program, but students currently enrolled will be able to complete the program until it ends in 2029, according to the letter.
“We remain committed to providing every one of our students with a rich and engaging curriculum,” Bennett said in the letter.
“We will continue to provide programs that allow students to have a voice in their education journey with the operation of the Flexible Learning Environment.”
Parent Ashley Klimecki discovered the MAP program after her eldest child struggled at their mainstream school in Warburton, 59 kilometres away from Templestowe College.
The family toured schools with different environments and thought MAP and the college would work for their four children with different learning needs, and they moved into the zone because of the school.
“We viewed it as perfect for all four children, only two of which … are perfect for MAP, because the other two actually like a more black-and-white mainstream environment, that’s why it was perfect having both options.”
Klimecki said students had been blindsided by the decision to close the program.
“It’s been really emotional for all the students, it’s something they didn’t see coming, and I think there wasn’t really any of thought their welfare taking on this news,” she explained.
But while her eldest child will be able to finish the MAP program, Klimecki is saddened her other child in year 4 won’t be able to take part.
“I want my child to achieve at their level and not be pushed into stress and anxiety to keep up with other people without learning difficulties,” she said.
She was particularly disappointed the program was closing after the family moved into the area for it.
“When I have looked at other options … there’s certainly no other option we could easily transfer to.”
She hoped the school would reconsider the decision.
“I feel like long-term welfare for children in general is in jeopardy if we can’t cater more openly for diverse needs,” the mum said.
“Not all children learn the same way.”
The children who are in the program and those who have passed through it are eager to save it, and tried to raise the issue within the school.
Student Zaria Schumacher said she and her classmates had been lobbying for the school to at least allow other students within the school to enrol.
“MAP is one of the reasons I love school so much,” the 15-year-old said.
“The main reason I’m disappointed is I want MAP to be available for future students who are even younger than me,” she said.
The teenager helped start a petition to ask the school to reverse its decision.
“I know it might not be possible but at least I want students in year 5 and 6 to still get to come even if it’s just for one or two years. I really hope I can help those people,” she said.
An Education Department spokesman said numbers in the Montessori program at Templestowe College had dropped significantly.
“As a result, the school leadership team determined the program was no longer viable,” it said.
“The school community was kept informed through their representatives on the school council.”
Neither Templestowe College nor Bennett responded to requests for comment.
There are only two other Montessori adolescent programs in the state, one based at the North-Eastern Montessori School at St Helena and one at the Melbourne Montessori College’s Brighton East campus.
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Caroline Schelle is an education reporter, and joined The Age in 2022. She previously covered courts at AAP.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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