Clara Grunwald

Passions

Vocation

Family

German-Jewish teacher and promoter of Montessori education, killed by the Nazis at Auschwitz-Birkenau. After passing her teaching exam in 1896, she taught at various schools in Berlin. In 1913, Clara Grunwald came into contact with the teachings of Maria Montessori through the classic work of reform education known today as The Discovery of the Child. Supported by the trained Montessori teacher Elsa Ochs, she founded the Montessori Committee in 1919. Two years later, the Society of Friends and Supporters of the Montessori Method was founded in Germany. In 1925, both organizations merged and became the German Montessori Society (DMG), headed by Clara Grunwald. It was not until 1921 that she completed a Montessori course conducted by Maria Montessori in London, then she conducted the first German training course for Montessori pedagogy with Elsa Ochs in 1923. At the end of 1926 there was a conflict between Clara Grunwald and Maria Montessori, which irrevocably separated the two women. Nevertheless, Clara Grunwald campaigned as long as possible for the new education, which began to establish itself in Germany until the seizure of power by the National Socialists put an end to this development. Clara Grunwald was dismissed from service because of her Jewish origins in early 1933. She was also banned from any commitment to Montessori education. But Clara Grunwald did not stay idle. She organized underground activities with the Quakers and especially with her young friend Clothilde Freiin Schenk zu Schweinsberg, helping the departure of Jews from Germany, hiding them in their apartment or with friends. She herself did not think about leaving Germany. Clara Grunwald was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau with the last large group of the 37th transport to the East, leaving Berlin on 19 April 1943. It can be assumed that she was gassed immediately on arrival. Link to Wikipedia biography (German)