Irene Weiss, age 15, of Billings, Mont., for her question:

WHO STARTED THE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS?

The Montessori method of education is a system developed to help children learn how to learn by themselves. An Italian educator named Maria Montessori came up with the special plan, which she introduced in Rome in 1907.

According to educators who have tried the system, children learn to read and write much more quickly with the Montessori method. Special equipment helps direct the interests of the child. Teachers guide the child's first efforts but the child learns alone.

Maria Montessori earned a medical degree at the University of Rome and used her training to teach mentally defective children. She later traveled throughout the world, lecturing on her teaching system.

There are now more than 600 Montessori schools in the United States. The Montessori method was revived in the 1950s. Children are enrolled when they are from about 3 to 6 years of age.