Montessori education research: A Conversation with Victor Eltorp, Educational Anthropologist

Introduction

At Bloom, we believe that education is more than academic achievement, it is a space where children build their sense of self, belonging, and possibility.

Victor Eltorp, a master’s student in Educational Anthropology at Aarhus University in Denmark, brings this idea to life through his work. With eight years of experience as a kindergarten teacher, he became interested in how schools and educational environments shape children’s identities and experiences.

During his fieldwork at Bloom, Victor is exploring how the Montessori approach supports children’s growing sense of identity, autonomy, and community, and how these experiences may differ from those in more traditional school settings. His research offers a close look at everyday classroom life and how children contribute to the learning culture around them.

In this interview, Victor shares what led him to educational anthropology, how he approaches his research, and why Bloom provides a meaningful context for studying identity and learning. His reflections highlight how the Montessori model helps children become confident, independent, and self-aware learners, an important theme in today’s conversations about education and child development.

What is Educational Anthropology and fieldwork?

Educational Anthropology is about understanding how education, upbringing, and identity are shaped through everyday interactions in institutional contexts like schools and preschools. We study how institutions influence children’s lives and how children, in turn, influence the institutions they’re part of.

As part of my degree, I am required to do a three-month fieldwork project. The goal is to immerse myself in a setting, observe and participate in daily life, and gather data for my thesis.

 Why Bloom?

I was introduced to Bloom through a conversation with Nina Bulajić, and after looking into your school more deeply, I was immediately drawn to your values and your approach. The Montessori philosophy, the emphasis on intrinsic motivation, mutual respect, and personal growth... all of that makes Bloom a really unique educational space.

From an anthropological perspective, I see your school as an ideal place to explore how alternative pedagogical approaches shape children’s identity and self-understanding. My hypothesis is that the way children at Bloom understand themselves, learning, and school might differ in significant ways from children in more conventional systems. And I would love to learn more about that from within your community.

What do you hope to explore more closely?

My main research interest is identity: how children come to see themselves, how they understand their role in the school community, and how they are supported and perceived by the adults around them. I’m especially interested in how values such as autonomy and respect play out in everyday school life. I also hope to understand how the school interacts with families and how ideas about childhood, learning, and development are negotiated between children, teachers, and parents.

That said, I know that when you work with real people and real lives, things rarely go exactly as planned. So my approach will be flexible and open. I want to let the fieldwork guide me, and follow what really matters here, in this specific context.

Conclusion: Why Research Like Victor’s Matters

Victor Eltorp’s research reminds us that education is not only about academic frameworks, but about how children experience the world and create meaning within it. By immersing himself in Bloom’s Montessori environment, he seeks to understand how values such as respect, independence, and community shape children’s identities from their earliest years.

At Bloom, we believe in the power of such inquiry, because understanding how children grow, think, and connect is essential to building educational systems that honor individuality and inspire lifelong curiosity.

We look forward to hearing more about Victor’s insights once his fieldwork is complete and hope to welcome him for another conversation to share his reflections and discoveries.