Like so many streets, bridges, and institutions, our school was named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the most visible spokesperson and leader of the Civil Rights Movement. However, at Martin Luther King Montessori School, Dr. King is more than our eponym; he is our inspiration.
MLK Montessori was established in 1968, in response to the assassination of Dr. King. Three Fort Wayne women—Dottie Fitchey, Dorothy Holt, and Mary Hoban—had a vision to transform the tragic event into something positive for the Fort Wayne community. Today, more than 50 years later, his words and vision continue to influence our work.
Dr. King wrote, “Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.” At MLK, we help our students become more independent and give them the knowledge and tools they need to be successful. This is achieved not only through academic instruction but also by letting students make decisions and by giving them opportunities to perform “Practical Life” activities such as pouring water, lacing shoes, cleaning a workspace, or preparing a snack. MLK students learn at an early age to make self-determining decisions and develop their self-confidence by doing things for themselves.
Dr. King also wrote, “We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” At MLK Montessori, our goal is to develop the whole child, helping the children we serve to become not just successful students but also thoughtful, caring citizens. That is why we model skills like listening, patience, and empathy; why we actively teach peaceful, conflict resolution; why we explore the natural world and show students how to be environmental stewards; why we encourage students to celebrate diversity and teach them about their own culture and the cultures of others; and why we celebrate leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King with them.
It is our hope that—by helping the children we serve develop the skills they need to become our community’s future leaders—we are truly honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
