The Harvard University Center for Child Development has chosen to start a program in Chile called "a Good Start" in which they focus on three area of development in order to improve child learning in Chile. The started out with four sites and will expand to 60. Their main focus is teacher training. I high quality teachers equal higher knowledge in their students. Their second focus is keeping the children healthy so they are at school and ready to learn. High quality language instruction and getting parents involved are other component they will start in each site. They are committed to ending the inequities in Chile and hope to have the program spread to other countries in Latin America.
They also have programs starting in other countries and research on other developmental issues surrounding children especially mental health issues.
The site does not go in depth as to what inequities Chiles has nor how they plan on over coming them other than to have actor both private and public to commit to two years of helping them.
References:
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/
Hi Laury,
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. How though is Harvard a part of this? Will they send a team, do they have contact with a university there?
It is a tricky business going into a foreign country to make changes. This could be an interesting venture. Chile would also offer some geographic challenges.
This will be interesting to follow.
Thanks,
Bobbie
Laury,
ReplyDeleteGoing into a different country with our definition of high quality in teacher training and care may be difficult. An international standard would need to be in place for other nations to agree, don't you think?