ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP: DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES IN EDUCATION
FROM SOCIALLY RESPONSIVE CLASSROOMS TO SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE SOCIETIES
International Step by Step Association 9th Annual Conference
9-12 October, 2008, Budapest, Hungary
http://www.diamond-congress.hu/issa2008
The International Step by Step Association - ISSA, an innovative network of early childhood education and development professionals and organizations, welcomes proposals and interested participants from Eastern and Western Europe and from around the globe to the interdisciplinary conference Active Citizenship: Democratic Practices in Education, organized in partnership with the World Forum Foundation. This conference will provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and experiences regarding how the promotion and practices of democracy, both in teaching practice and through advocacy, can affect the quality of children’s lives and those of the societies everywhere.
Professionals and all stakeholders involved in and caring for quality and access to early childhood education and development (ECED) from the classroom to the policy level are invited to join us to explore this topic in Budapest, Hungary, one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
Deadline for paper submissions: 15 April, 2008
Formal confirmation of acceptance of papers: 15 June 2008
Final date to pay reduced registration fee: 1 July 2008
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Dr. Judith L. Evans, Director Emeritus, Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development (Canada)
Dr. Jacqueline Hayden, Programme Manager, Social Inclusion and Respect for Diversity, Bernard van Leer Foundation (The Netherlands)
Prof. Dr. Tatjana Koke, Minister of Education, Ministry of Education and Science; University of Latvia (Latvia)
Dr. Richard A. Nuccio, Director, Citivas International Programs, Center for Civic Education (United States)
Prof. Dr Audrey Osler, Director, Centre for Citizenship and Human Rights Education, University of Leeds (United Kingdom)
Dr. Charles N. Quigley, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education (United States)
Prof. Jacques van der Gaag, Professor of Development Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
PAPERS ARE INVITED AROUND THE FOLLOWING STRANDS:
1. Teaching and learning democracy from the early years: democratic practices and content in our classrooms
The goal of this strand will be to share knowledge end engage participants in discussion about principles, concepts, guidelines, and techniques that teachers, school administrators, policymakers, and the entire community can use to develop innovative educational programs that will prepare even the youngest students to become effective citizens in a global context.
Panels will include presentations on:
· Curriculum connections: When, what and where we should teach about democracy?
· Democratic practices in the classroom and beyond: How and what we should teach about democracy?
· Inclusion and individuality: What is the importance of and role for inclusion and diversity in our teaching about democracy?
· Democratic leadership: How we can move from participation to advocacy?
· Looking into the future: Do teacher preparation and professional development programs reflect an understanding of democracy in the early years of childhood?
· Building on knowledge: What does research tell us about the development of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed in democratic environments?
2. Advocacy for equal access to quality education and care for every child: from local to international initiatives
The goal of this strand will be to gain knowledge of shared efforts on a broad range of levels of advocacy involving different sectors (NGOs, businesses, families, government, multinational organizations, etc…) working together to promote specific policy and practical objectives concerning access to early childhood education and development resources. This strand will open with a plenary on ECED as a global movement, followed by several panels presenting the situation in different regions of the world. This strand will also include “country clinics”, workshops on moving ECED policy forward in several countries from Central Europe and Central Asia.
Panels will include presentations on:
· Global advocacy priorities that are coming to the forefront regionally (Education for All-Fast Track Initiative, the 4 Cornerstones for Advocacy of the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Education, the disability-rights protection internationally and in the EU specifically, and others);
· Regional advocacy priorities that should be more prominent internationally (increasing access, quality, and variety of services for all children; expanding and promoting integration programs for Roma, minorities, children with special needs, etc);
· Joining efforts and building partnerships: Cross-sector cooperation among various NGOs (small/large/medium/national/international), businesses, families, government, and multinational organizations;
· Democracy and diversity in Europe: Old and new challenges in ECED, including new trends of migration, and the deepening gap between socioeconomic groups in Central and Eastern Europe;
· Best practices in advocacy efforts in ECED and beyond.
HOW TO APPLY:
For the details of the conference and submission of papers, please refer to the Conference website: http://www.diamond-congress.hu/issa2008
For more information on the conference, please contact Eva Izsak: eizsak@issa.hu
Please assist us by disseminating
this announcement to others who may be interested in attending this
Conference. We look forward to hosting you in Budapest!
Sincerely,
Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.
President of the ISSA Board,
Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (United States)
Regina Sabaliauskiene
Director of the Center for Innovative Education (Lithuania)
Conference Chairs