What do you know about the Montessori Method?

Sometimes people complain about a school because they don’t understand the Montessori Method and philosophy and therefore misunderstand what is happening or not happening at the school. 

"This happens in Montessori Education a lot. Often times, parents do not know much about Montessori and put their child in a Montessori school, just expecting some miracle to happen and their child become this great reader/math person/etc. When they find Montessori is not really about competition to see who is the best, many parents feel dissatisfied with Montessori.

There is also the problem that there are many schools that claim to be Montessori and are not. This is the biggest complaint I see. I even see it from parents that do not realize they are not in a Montessori classroom. I remember one lady in a message board saying she didn't like all the worksheets the Montessori school is giving her daughter. When asked more in depth questions, it ends up the school barely even had any of the materials. It said "Montessori" in their brochure, but clearly wasn't. Or you might hear of teachers using poor discipline techniques that are counter to Montessori philosophy."
                                             Written by Mattfromasia on Yahoo Answers

Although input from other parents is always important, be aware that they may not always have the background knowledge to make a qualified statement.

This extends to traditional educators. Before listening to a "professional's opinion" ask how much of an education on the Montessori Method and philosophy they have. "I studied Montessori in school." is a common response,  yet when pushed to elaborate on what "study" means, it often turns out to be little more than a chapter in a book.