NATIONAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION MOURNS DEATH
OF HEAD START FOUNDING FATHER DR. URIE BRONFENBRENNER
WASHINGTON,
D.C.///September 27, 2005//Commenting on the passing of Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner, NHSA President and CEO Sarah Greene said today:
“The National Head Start Association joins with colleagues in the education and psychological communities as we collectively mourn the passing of a great thinker, a revolutionary scientist, and a founding father of Head Start.
Dr. Bronfenbrenner’s contributions to the understanding of child development cannot be overestimated. More than 40 years ago, he instituted a sea change by introducing the notion that children are influenced by any number of social factors. These include not only teachers and parents but also economics, politics, and other social systems. He brought together disciplines that, until that point, had been operating completely independent of one another, all in the interest of understanding and ultimately helping children.
His impact on Head Start was just as groundbreaking. Alongside such innovators as Sargent Shriver and Dr. Edward Zigler, he helped establish what would become the nation’s preeminent early childhood program. One of my favorite stories is about his tea with Lady Bird Johnson. She had invited Dr. Bronfenbrenner to discuss the child development models he had seen in other countries. Dr. Bronfenbrenner has been quoted as saying that by the end of that conversation there was clearly a gleam in Mrs. Johnson's eye, and that she told him on subsequent occasions that this was when her enthusiasm for something like Head Start was kindled.
Dr. Bronfenbrenner remained a committed and steadfast advocate for Head Start throughout his lifetime. The passing of this great man is a loss to children and child advocates everywhere.”
ABOUT NHSA
The National Head Start Association (http://www.nhsa.org) is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 2,700 Head Start programs in the United States. The Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery
CONTACT: Ailis Aaron, (703) 276-3265 or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com.
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