Das Lernen der Eigenständigkeit

What does a modern school need in order to do justice to the development of today's society?

Das Lernen der Eigenständigkeit (“Learning Independence”) tells the story of the Montessori Farm Aulendiebach. The sensitive documentary focuses on the ideas and approaches of Lars Prignitz and his team for the third plane of development (ages 12 to 18) according to Maria Montessori and reflects on them through the learning experiences and developments of the place and the school concept since 2018. Confronted with the dilemma that there were no schools offering the integrative and holistic teaching that Lars Prignitz had in mind for a modern school, he finally settled on the school concept of Maria Montessori. For more than 20 years he and his team gathered experience at different schools and in centrally organised training courses of the Association Montessori Internationale, until in 2018 the decision was made to set up the farm concept for the age group 12 to 18 in Aulendiebach in Hesse, together with the BMS Ingelheim (Bilingual Montessori School). From theory to practice, the farm offers all the infrastructure required to implement holistic learning for the third plane of human development according to Montessori in the present day. Lars and his team are convinced that the farm as a place of learning, which represents all areas of life in a microcosm, prepares the students better for their future lives: by learning practical skills (organisation, craftsmanship, finances, taxes, building structures, social organisation and much more) and interdisciplinary thinking in direct combination with the theoretical content given by the general curriculum. Through a worldwide network and continuous development, the implementation by Lars and his team has proven to be a structural and educational success and today serves as a showcase model for guests and Montessori educators from all over Europe.

We would like to thank the Förderverein der Bilingualen Montessori-Schule e. V. and the Center of Work and Study Aulendiebach e. V. very much for making the entire production possible and for their active support.

Following the premiere on 20 March 2024, we can offer schools the opportunity to host an event together in a town near the school. The offer is aimed at schools that currently implement or plan to implement a place of learning like the Montessori Farm Aulendiebach in their own structures, or that generally want to convey the values of Montessori for the third plane of development. The film offers the great added value of bringing the principles and content of such an undertaking closer to parents, political stakeholders and supporters in their own region in a simple and entertaining way.

Mastlicht Studio presents a film by Maximilian Priess, “Das Lernen der Eigenständigkeit”. The German premiere is scheduled for 20 March 2024 and further events can be organised from 1 April 2024, distributed by Mastlicht Studio.