Montessori Eğitim Yaklaşımının Din Eğitimine Uygulanması: Godly Play Örneği

Maria Montessori çocuk eğitimi konusunda hem teorik hem de uygulamalı birçok çalışma gerçekleştirmiştir. Montessori’nin çalışmaları incelendiğinde hem çocuk eğitiminde hem de -çok bilinmemekle birlikte- din eğitiminde özgün girişimlerde bulunduğu görülür. Çalışmamız; Montessori’nin din eğitimi konusundaki uygulamalarını farklı yönleri ile ele almayı, Jerome W. Berryman’ın geliştirdiği Godly Play yaklaşımını teorik temeller ve uygulama süreçleri açısından incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Veriler doküman inceleme yolu ile toplanmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, Montessori’nin yaklaşık 20 yıl kaldığı Barselona’da kurduğu okulda uygulamalı din eğitimine ayrı bir önem verdiği görülmüştür. Sistematik ve teorik bir din eğitiminin değil, çocukların gelişim düzeylerine göre düzenlenmiş uygun bir çevrede ve okul ortamında, tecrübeye ve çalışmaya dayalı bir din ve maneviyat eğitiminin mümkün olduğunu uygulamalı olarak göstermiştir. Onun eğitim anlayışını daha sistematik bir hale getiren Berryman, bazı yönleriyle Montessori geleneğinden ayrılmakla birlikte, temelde Montessori’ye dayanan erken çocukluk dönemi din eğitiminin Protestan yorumunu geliştirmiştir. Bu yaklaşımda; İncil kıssalarının sınıf ortamında uygun materyaller ile sergilenebileceği ve bunların çocukların dünyasına dâhil edilebileceği iddia edilir. Bunu sağlamak için ayinlerden ziyade çocukların Tanrı’nın kelamı ile baş başa kalacakları ve ilgili materyalden kendi anlamlarını çıkaracakları Montessori sınıfları düzenlenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda söz konusu yaklaşımın uygun yöntem ve içerik düzenlemeleri ile diğer dinler için de kullanılabileceği görülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Maria Montessori, Jerome W. Berryman, Godly Play, Din eğitimi, Erken Çocukluk

Application of Montessori Educational Approach to Religious Education: The case of Godly Play

Maria Montessori carried out both theoretical and practical studies on child education. When Montessori's studies are examined, it is seen that she made original contributions both in education of children and - although not very well known – in religious education. The purpose of this study is to examine the different aspects of Montessori's practices on religious education and to examine the Godly Play approach developed by Berryman in terms of theoretical foundations and application processes. Qualitative research method was used for this purpose. Data was collected through document review. At the end of the study, it is concluded that Montessori gave special importance to applied religious education in the school she founded in Barcelona where she stayed for 20 years. She practically demonstrated that it is possible to study religion and spirituality based on experience and work in a suitable school environment which arranged according to the level of development of children, not a systematic and theoretical religious education. Berryman has developed her educational approach and made it more systematic. Although he has diverged markedly from the Montessori tradition, he has developed a Protestant interpretation of early childhood religious education. In this approach; it is claimed that the Bible stories can be included with appropriate materials in the classroom environment and they can be introduced to the world of children. In order to achieve this goal, the classes should be organized as Montessori’s style, where children would be left alone with the word of God, and they would get meaning from the material themselves. As a result, it can be argued that this approach can be used for other religions with appropriate method and content arrangements.

Keywords:

Maria Montessori, Jerome W. Berryman, Godly Play, Early childhood, Religious education,

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