After looking over several podcast from the World Forum website I came across TJ Skalski, who the principal of the Mother Earth's Children's Charter School in Alberta, Canada, which is the only Charter school that has a focus on the indigenous people. It was interesting to listen to her speak about how the MECCS has evolved over the last several years. When Skalski became principal she was the 5th one who had come in 5 years. She discusses that when she arrived that children were missing strong work ethic, they were damaged, wounded, hungry, depressed and were feeling like they had no worth. Her goal was to give them hope, build their dreams and inspire them to do something with their lives.
Skalski, T. (Performer). (2010, April 16). Tj skalski [Audio podcast]. World Forum Radio. Retrieved from http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio
Reviewing the "Global Children's Initiative Fact Sheet" was very interesting. Three insights:
1) Mental health is under-addressed. There are significant implications for the broader heath and development of children and societies urgent need to identify how big this issue really is getting. Their goal is to identify the problem and develop appropriate ways to meet the needs of children and their diverse cultures they come from.
2) Another goal of the "Global Children's Initiative" is to use science-based and a developmental perspective to work with children who are in crisis and conflict situations.
3) Lastly, there is a push to educate people in leadership positions internationally about the investments of the earliest years in life.
Global children's initiative. (2011). Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/
Abby,
ReplyDeleteSounds like Skalski had quite the job! Did she succeed in reaching her goals? Staff turn-over is hard on children, especially young children.
Children in crisis is a global issue. The issue itself is so diverse and overwhelming. There are children in crisis due to extreme poverty as well as children in crisis due to being mistreated and abused. I am glad for an Initiative that strives to assist children on a global basis.
Joey
Abby,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article. I agree with Joey on how hard it is on children when there is a big change in staff. Skalski kind of put me in the mind of the move "Lean on Me" starring Morgan Freeman when he was moved to East Side High to staighten up the school. One thing I can say is that he did get the job done by helping the children bring up the test scores, etc. How did Skalski turn out?
Http://thestructuredlifeofmsl.blogspot.com