Being able to defer short term gratification for long term gain is the root cause of success in life. It is like running a race - there is pain, but is the pain destructive or just noise?
I agree with this sentiment 100%. But speaking only for my children and from my experiences, what is being described here would be potentially destructive. If my kids' Montessori teacher made them do this much writing (esp. at the age of just six) they would very quickly begin to hesitate to choose work and when nudged would choose on the basis of what work would have the least associated writing.
I see no problem with forcing a child to write more so as to develop the skill, regardless of whether they like it or not. I force my kids to practice the piano every day and they don't like it. But I wouldn't want them to dislike school and not be able to pursue their interests because the associated writing component was too onerous. Not at the age of six.
P.S. I don't mean criticize this teacher. The teacher in this case knows the child and has said she wants to see how it goes. Sounds very reasonable so far.
