Reggio Emilia Philosophy

Since 2003, The Young School and Elementary educators have been strongly inspired by the philosophy and characteristics of the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

The city of Reggio Emilia in Italy is world-renowned for its innovative and high quality education.

The Reggio Emilia approach is not a method or a curriculum, it is a set of principles for integrating children's development and social-cultural environment with the best theory and practice concerning children's education.  This approach has created great enthusiasm among parents, teachers and educators throughout the world's educational community.  "The stronger the start, the better the finish." Those words, Secretary of Education Richard Riley says, should be our motto for early childhood education.  In the winter of 2003, Riley and 250 U.S. educators traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy. At the Early Childhood Summit held in Washington, D.C., in June 2003. Riley commented about his visit to Reggio Emilia. "The rigor with which they train their teachers is rather breathtaking," he said. The teachers respect the ideas and values that the children bring to the school, and the teachers are smart enough to build on the creativity of the children.

The Reggio Emilia approach to educating children brings about learning that is inspired by the richness of life.  It constantly invokes a child's sense of wonder, evokes his emotions, provokes his thought processes, and nurtures in him an intrinsic desire to learn.