A conversation with Adam Braus of Elton University

What if we could reinvent the university from the ground up, using many of the same principles that have guided Montessori education for more than a century? Imagine a university without conventional courses, where every student follows an individualized program of study, works directly with mentors, and learns through meaningful projects connected to real life. Imagine being able to earn a master’s degree that recognizes what you’ve already learned through years of professional experience. Or pursuing a doctorate by conducting original research and publishing scholarly papers rather than following a conventional sequence of courses. It sounds rather Montessori, doesn’t it? This week, I had a fascinating conversation with Adam Braus, the founding president of Elton University, a new, Montessori-inspired institution attempting to rethink higher education. (https://www.elton.university/) Adam has some provocative ideas about how universities should work, what academic degrees ought to represent, and why higher education has become so expensive. Elton is still a very young institution, and there are important questions about accreditation and the recognition of its degrees. I raised those concerns during our conversation, and they are part of the article. But whether or not you agree with Adam’s conclusions, I think you’ll find his ideas worth considering. For those of us who believe deeply in Montessori education, the larger question is especially interesting: If we know that individualized, purposeful learning can be so powerful for children, why shouldn’t we organize adult education around those same principles? I hope it gives you something interesting to think about this weekend. As always, I’d welcome your thoughts. Warm regards, Tim Seldin President, Montessori Foundation