City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow, India, stands out not only for its academic excellence but also for its remarkable emphasis on moral values and emotional intelligence. Independent studies and surveys conducted by renowned institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow, and qualitative surveys by notable experts have highlighted CMS’s unique approach to education. These studies reveal CMS’s effectiveness in nurturing key values such as empathy, social responsibility, and discipline among its students.
Key Findings from Independent Studies
IIM, Lucknow Study
Study Title: Incorporation of Moral Values and Emotional Intelligence in the Present Education System
Researchers: Mr. Nitin Agarwal (BTech, ITT, Delhi, 2002) and Mr. Tarun Raj (IIT, Kanpur, 1999)
Institution: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow
Date: March-June, 2003
Overview: This study, conducted as part of the researchers’ degree requirements at IIM, Lucknow, focused on evaluating the impact of moral values and emotional intelligence in the education system. The research was a comparative analysis of 12 Indian schools, including City Montessori School (CMS), and aimed to address the deteriorating social and moral atmosphere.
Key Findings:
- Values Promoted at CMS: CMS students excel in values such as empathy, social responsibility, problem-solving, regularity, punctuality, and obedience. These traits are attributed to CMS’s philosophy that schools should act as “Lighthouses of Society” and provide meaningful guidance to students and the community.
- Value Comparison: CMS students ranked significantly higher in the following values compared to their peers from other schools:
- Loyalty
- Responsibility
- Brotherhood
- Dutifulness
- Repentance
- Courtesy
- Truthfulness
- Cleanliness
- Respect
- Obedience
- Honesty
- Concern for Environment
- Dignity of Labour
- Justice
Study Methodology: The study involved a comprehensive questionnaire of 196 questions and covered responses from 256 girls and 252 boys across 12 schools in northern India. The study classified virtues under self-discipline, self-management, humanity, inquisitiveness, self-control, self-satisfaction, and liberty. CMS was noted for its high rankings in these areas.
Parel Qualitative Survey
Survey Title: Parel Qualitative Survey of 14 and 15-Year-Olds
Conducted by: Matthew J. Parel, former Principal and Head of Army Public Schools in India
Schools Surveyed:
- City Montessori School, Lucknow
- LS, Simla
- SMHS, Kasuali
Overview: Matthew J. Parel conducted this open-ended survey to explore how students from schools with different focuses (values-based vs. academic excellence) viewed their education. The survey aimed to understand students’ aspirations and perceptions about their educational experience.
Key Findings:
- Goals Through Education: CMS students showed a strong inclination towards becoming good human beings with a focus on moral values. Here’s how CMS students responded compared to those from LS and SMHS:
- Service to the World: 25% CMS, 0% LS, 2% SMHS
- Spiritual and Moral Values: 35% CMS, 5% LS, 34% SMHS
- Acquiring Good Habits: 70% CMS, 60% LS, 93% SMHS
- Serving the Poor: 13% CMS, 0% LS, 23% SMHS
- Service to the Country: 17% CMS, 0% LS, 20% SMHS
- Excelling and Competing Well: 84% CMS, 100% LS, 67% SMHS
- Becoming Rich and Famous: 71% CMS, 20% LS, 82% SMHS
- Meeting Parents’ Expectations: 16% CMS, 5% LS, 19% SMHS
- Meeting Teachers’ Expectations: 28% CMS, 0% LS, 17% SMHS
Testimonials:
- “CMS imparts us spiritual, material, and divine knowledge, helping us become both good and smart.” — Tanushree Srivastava, IX-C2, CMS Rajendra Nagar
- “CMS makes us glow in this morally dark world.” — Renu Verma, X-A, CMS Mahanagar
The independent studies and surveys underscore City Montessori School’s exceptional performance in integrating moral values and emotional intelligence into its educational framework. The findings from IIM, Lucknow, and the qualitative survey by Matthew J. Parel highlight CMS’s success in fostering a range of essential values among its students. These studies confirm CMS’s position as a leading institution in providing holistic education that balances academic excellence with moral and emotional growth.
