News Lasting Labyrinths

October 2008 Clay-Platte Children's House Montessori School, (CPCH) Kansas City, Missouri, is pleased to announce that a labyrinth was recently constructed on their campus. The labyrinth is a classical seven circuit labyrinth in the Native American form often referred to as "Man in the Maze." Regardless of that reference, today labyrinth enthusiasts are quick to point out that mazes and labyrinths are quite different. Mazes are puzzles to solve, having choices along the way many of them leading to dead ends or blind alleys, leaving the walker perplexed as to which way to go. Labyrinths have a single path leading to a central goal that is in the heart of the labyrinth. The unicursal path has many twists and turns, but always leads to the goal, allowing the walker to move along the path without worrying about getting lost or finding the way.
The labyrinth was designed by M.E. (Beth) Langley and constructed with students, staff of CPCH and volunteers over the course of several days. CPCH was the site of the Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI) Hands for Peace Conference this fall, and labyrinth construction began several days ahead of that event. Conference participants also contributed to the construction of the 32 ft. rock and cedar mulch creation.
CPCH is 42 years old and is an authentic Montessori school. Their campus is situated on land that has significant pre-historical roots. Students of CPCH have worked with a local archeologist and have determined that the land was inhabited by the Hopewell Indians 4,000 years ago. The campus is registered with the Archeology Society as the 10 Acre Wood Site. The labyrinth was given the official name 10 Acre Wood Labyrinth, although it is referred to informally and simply as the Labyrinth at Clay-Platte Montessori School.
Interestingly, the labyrinth falls on what has been designated the Art Line. The Art Line essentially bisects the United States at the 39.1 parallel running from California to New Jersey. The Great Serpent Mound in Ohio is a great earthwork that was constructed by the Hopewell Culture about 1000 years ago also is one the Art Line. More recent earth art and labyrinths created by Alex Champion, Toby Evans and others are also on the Art Line.

Brockman Elementary School Peace Day 2008		News Lasting Labyrinths M. E. "Beth" Langley

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		Labyrinth Designed and Constructed in Mexico January 2009 M.E. Langley accepted an invitation to attend the Associacion Montessori de Puebla Congress and visit the Colegio Montessori Quetzalli, an authentic Montessori school for children from one year old through high school. A workshop for the staff of the school and the adult students of Patricia Pantoja's MEPI accredited Montessori teacher preparation programs was held at the school. Ms. Langley enlisted the help of students, staff, administration, and volunteers to construct a labyrinth on the campus. Puebla is known as the City of Angels, and the symbol was included in the design of the labyrinth. Christopher Tron chalked the labyrinth's angel in preparation for the painting the labyrinth and will add finishing details to it. As always, young students were captivated by the appearance of the labyrinth and many of them watched or participated in the painting of the seven circuit classical labyrinth. Ms. Langley was delighted to report of her extraordinary experiences that included a visit to the pyramid in Cholula, including a trek through the tunnels that are open to visitors. In the countryside nearby is a newly constructed rock labyrinth, also a classical seven circuit, that was a special destination "treat" for the visitor from the Estados Unidos de America. The southern hospitality given her made her first foray into the international labyrinth scene a joyful success. South Carolina DSS Credit Hours Available November 2008 Schools, Preschools or Daycares needing training hours recognized by South Carolina Child Care Training System can now receive 3 hours credit for her half-day workshop on Labyrinths and Teamwork. The workshop provides 1.5 hour credit for curriculum and 1.5 hour credit for professional development. A six hour workshop is also available that will provide a more in-depth study of labyrinths, additional classroom activities and preparation, as well as offer more professional development activities for the participants. Labyrinth Built at Clay-Platte Montessori School October 2008 Clay-Platte Children's House Montessori School, (CPCH) Kansas City, Missouri, is pleased to announce that a labyrinth was recently constructed on their campus. The labyrinth is a classical seven circuit labyrinth in the Native American form often referred to as "Man in the Maze." Regardless of that reference, today labyrinth enthusiasts are quick to point out that mazes and labyrinths are quite different. Mazes are puzzles to solve, having choices along the way many of them leading to dead ends or blind alleys, leaving the walker perplexed as to which way to go. Labyrinths have a single path leading to a central goal that is in the heart of the labyrinth. The unicursal path has many twists and turns, but always leads to the goal, allowing the walker to move along the path without worrying about getting lost or finding the way. The labyrinth was designed by M.E. (Beth) Langley and constructed with students, staff of CPCH and volunteers over the course of several days. CPCH was the site of the Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI) Hands for Peace Conference this fall, and labyrinth construction began several days ahead of that event. Conference participants also contributed to the construction of the 32 ft. rock and cedar mulch creation. CPCH is 42 years old and is an authentic Montessori school. Their campus is situated on land that has significant pre-historical roots. Students of CPCH have worked with a local archeologist and have determined that the land was inhabited by the Hopewell Indians 4,000 years ago. The campus is registered with the Archeology Society as the 10 Acre Wood Site. The labyrinth was given the official name 10 Acre Wood Labyrinth, although it is referred to informally and simply as the Labyrinth at Clay-Platte Montessori School. Interestingly, the labyrinth falls on what has been designated the Art Line. The Art Line essentially bisects the United States at the 39.1 parallel running from California to New Jersey. The Great Serpent Mound in Ohio is a great earthwork that was constructed by the Hopewell Culture about 1000 years ago also is one the Art Line. More recent earth art and labyrinths created by Alex Champion, Toby Evans and others are also on the Art Line.


(c) 2009		Come back again soon... All photos and text copyright M.E. Langley unless otherwise noted.