Connection with International Bureau of New Schools, Geneva, founded in 1925 and directed by Adolphe Ferriere a section of the International Bureau of Education.

Montessori's lecture "Peace and Education" was given in Nice in 1932, at the invitation of the International Bureau of Education, who subsequently published the lecture. That lecture was later incorporated into the book Education and Peace.

The International Bureau of Education became an integral part of UNESCO in 1969, under new statutes, while retaining wide intellectual and functional autonomy.

Ferriere was a great admirer of Montessori's work.

UNESCO

UNESCO was founded in 1945 (while Maria Montessori was. in India).

Letter of June 1948 by UNESCO thanking Mario for his letter of 24 May and, acknowledging receipt of The Secret of Childhood and the invitation to send a representative to the Congress in San Remo. ..."UNESCO is very much interested in the work of the Montessori Association", signed by Julian Huxley. Director-General.

Invitation was re-issued from India at the end of that year since the Congress had been postponed to the following year (1949).

1949 - UNESCO's representative to the San Remo Congress was Dr Cheng Chi-Pao, the deputy Lead, Department of Education UNESCO, He also gave an address. Click here to read the address.

Towards the end of 1949 Maria Montessori addressed a UNESCO Conference in Paris.

1950 - Maria Montessori was a member of the Italian delegation to the Fifth UNESCO Conference, held in Florence.

Torres Bodet, General-Director of UNESCO in his address said 'In Our midst we have someone who has become the symbol of our great expectations for education and world peace, Maria Montessori'.

1951 - Dr Montessori was present at the first meeting of the Governing Board, Wiesbaden, 19 June, where she delivered an address.

December: In response to an invitation by UNESCO to send a message, Montessori wrote 'II cittadino dimenticato' (The Forgotten Citizen). Click here to read the letter.

1952 (November) UNESCO Features carried ‘Apprendre en Enseignant' written for UNESCO by Maria Montessori just before her death on May 6, 1952.

Maria Montessori and members of the Italian delegation to the Fifth UNESCO Conference, held in Florence.