Marija Kuraitytė-Varnienė

Marija Kuraitytė-Varnienė (26 August 1886 – 10 October 1982) was a Lithuanian educator best known as the pioneer of the Montessori education in Lithuania.

Born to a family of petty Lithuanian nobles, she was educated at various Russian institutions. At the University of Geneva, she became interested in pedagogy. In particular, she was interested in early childhood education but was discouraged after her early efforts were not well received. In 1930 and 1934, she completed courses on the Montessori method and became its avid advocate in Lithuania. Kuraitytė-Varnienė established a kindergarten and a primary school as well as courses for kindergarten teachers. She also promoted the method in the press, during various lectures and exhibits. Her work in Lithuania was interrupted by World War II. She reestablished Montessori schools in Ravensburg, Germany, and Chicago, United States.

Biography Early life and education Kuraitytė was born near Girkalnis to a family of a petty Lithuanian noble. The family had three daughters and one son. They spent summers in Lithuania and winters in Saint Petersburg or Moscow.