Jenny was a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry.  What made her start working with children?  With experience from her own children and grandchildren she went on to open a Montessori school in Pretoria.  How did this all start and where is the project now after 25 (long) years?  

25 Years: Guided by One Thought

Jenny Miller, Johannesburg, South Africa

The inspirational thought, 25 Years ago

The moment that changed everything occurred during a retreat conducted by Mr. Donald Lambie, Leader of the School of Philosophy, when he said, “Be a beacon of light in the community”.

The words resonated deeply. It wasn’t just advice, it was a call to action. What did it mean? How could I bring these words into my daily life? Ultimately these questions shaped the path I took.

From the IT Industry to the unknown 

I was an ordinary middle-aged woman, who had entered the IT industry just at the right time.  Within a few years I had become a director of a small but growing company specializing in construction industry software. By 1997 I was a 50% shareholder and from the outside it seemed like success. On the inside however, I faced ethical dilemmas and challenges relating to the business. Corruption had become increasingly common and I no longer wanted to be part of it. 

When a buyer came forward offering to take over the company, my business partner and I accepted. Suddenly I found myself unemployed for the first time in my adult life. This brought a mix of fear and excitement. My inner voice asked, “What now?” but I heard Mr Lambie’s words echoing softly. 

Sitting on a park bench one day I asked myself, “How do I do that?”  and the answer came back, “You don’t do it, you become it.”  Bewildered, I decided just to be still and trust that the way would become clear. 

The following year I slowly adjusted to simply attending to the needs of each day. I wasn’t sure what it would lead to but I believe service has the power to reveal purpose.

My grandson was born around that time and when my daughter had to return to work I stepped in. He was an irritable and cranky baby so I took an infant massage course to see if it might help.  

A few months later, my granddaughter was born and within a short time her mother too had to go back to work. Then two friends of my daughter-in-law asked if I would also take care of their babies. What started out as grandparenting duties had become something rather more.

The opportunity of 25 Years

My eternal gratitude goes out to my late mom, my philosophy group and others who provided guidance and practical help. As more children joined the group, one mother even offered weekly music sessions. 

The additional help allowed me to stand back and take stock of what had just happened – this was the opportunity to “be a beacon of light in the community”. What work could be more important than to help children connect with Truth and the ever-present stillness of their own Self. Surely this work could not start too soon.

Preparing for the job

Although the spirit was willing to heed the call, knowledge was sadly lacking. I also needed to clarify exactly what it was that I believed in. What was needed for children to access their own “Light”? 

During visits to childcare groups and schools I saw some very unhappy children which made me question the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. I also studied the conversations between the Philosophy School and Shri Shantananda Sarasvati on the education of children. Inner reflection and further enquiry helped me conclude that a holistic view of the child was needed. This could best be provided in a gentle, non-competitive, respectful setting. Now I had to find a system that supported it. 

After much research, one pedagogy stood out which promoted the values I was looking for, that of Dr Maria Montessori. 

Dr Montessori

In her earliest writings Dr. Montessori, a remarkable woman of her time, speaks of the capacity for concentration, attention and memory in young children. They have intense need for order and natural ability to develop intrinsic motivation and self-control without inducement. She understood that education is a process of continuous discovery and achievement. Montessori felt the focus should be on a collaborative work ethic, especially in the early years. What touched me most was her deep belief in the sacredness of human potential lying dormant within each child. 

Without closing down my children’s group, I enrolled in the College of Modern Montessori, attending classes after hours until the curriculum had been covered. I graduated with distinction but within a short time I realised more was needed to do the job effectively. I enrolled for further studies but also attended every workshop and every short course I deemed to be of value to understanding the young child.

Being true to one’s purpose for 25 Years

The children’s group became known as ‘Morning Star’. The name is from ‘One Hundred and Eight Names of God’. It symbolises guidance, hope and new beginnings. This was exactly what I wanted the school to represent. It was growing and I was learning as fast as the children were.

My studies prevented me from attending the Philosophy School for a while. But throughout that time meditation practice remained steady and I studied whatever spiritual material I could lay my hands on. 

Always in the back of my mind was the conviction that these children could become beacons of hope and light, learn the truth, learn goodness and have the courage to stand up for it when it was needed. 

After three years of giving all my time to developing Morning Star, I re-joined classes at the School. Soon I was back in my previous Pretoria senior group where new connections could be made and old connections renewed. I was “home”. 

The new schoolhouse

Since those early days when the schoolroom was my TV lounge, we have outgrown our premises a number of times and our current location is a refurbished nursery school.

Over ten years ago, parents began asking for a primary school to provide continuity. In searching for premises suitable for older children, I discovered a neighbour’s property was for sale. However, before making an offer I asked Mr Lambie for his blessing. He was concerned that the responsibility and volume of work would be too much for me and asked who would assist me. I said I was hopeful that my daughter would help out. 

With finance from my family trust the new property was purchased. After some minor improvements we moved in. I discovered that teachers aren’t anything like computer programmers and a whole new species was uncovered!

Aligning my vision with that of the parents, teachers and education bodies required all the skill, patience, stillness and prayers imaginable. But it was worth the effort and I was determined not to give up. In remaining steadfast and holding on to the aim, the strength was there to meet everything and everybody with absolute love and patience. 

Even so, Mr Lambie’s concerns proved to be right. I did bite off more than I could chew and have paid the price. Which is to say, worldly responsibility takes up much time, energy and fortitude!  Some days I even feel I might rather stay in bed with my cat Max for a while longer, sip coffee with my friends and catch up with some general trivia before immersing myself in study of wisdom!  

I now have to trust that, having come so far, the children will be protected and follow the path that was intended for them.  

A New Image

One of the parents, a member of the Philosophy School, helped design a new logo for our growing school. Inspired by Michaelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Adam is reaching out to touch God’s hand. It is accompanied by the motto ‘Every Soul Seeks the Good’. These words from Plotinus (d.270AD) have helped us to remember our purpose, explain our methods to puzzled parents, train teachers and calm even the most furious child.

Subjects unfamiliar to most Pretoria parents, have entered our curriculum. Thinking Through Philosophy, Sanskrit and the works of Shakespeare open up young minds to a finer way of living and knowledge that would otherwise remain hidden.

Reflections

Over 300 children have passed through Morning Star Montessori. Today the school stands strong and continues to grow with the acquisition of a third adjacent property for children in grades 4 to 7.  

But beyond the numbers, the real success is in seeing children develop into thoughtful, capable individuals. They reaffirm the power of that single idea. An idea which inspired the resilience to overcome the challenges and provided the bedrock for service to education.

My wish is simply: May every child go from strength to strength, retaining enough wisdom to hear a philosophical thought and live by it’.  

Visit Jenny’s website: Morning Star Montessori

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