OBSERVATION FORMATS

DRAFT MINUTES

REFLECTIONS

Draft Minutes

Ready to Learn Workshop
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
May 24-25

Monday May 24, 2004
3:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Gives introduction. Goes over the agenda and defines our objectives. States that for the record, there are 8 countries present at the workshop from the Caribbean. These include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and Suriname. Mentions that visiting us this morning is Dr. Martinez from Cuba and also participating is Jorge Baxter from the Unit for Social Development and Education at the OAS.

States that we would first like to go over the provisional agenda and discuss how you would like to proceed in the next day and a half. Dr. Gaby Fujimoto goes over the agenda point per point. Mentions that what we were trying to achieve is a consensus on the lessons learned from the conference and from the visits.

Dr. Fujimoto invites the participants to discuss the agenda. She emphasizes the importance of returning the questionnaires and the observation forms.

The lessons learned from the IV International Conference

Dominican Republic

Yesterday we had a meeting amongst ourselves and we each reported about 5 to 8 minutes on our reflections and thoughts concerning the IV International Meeting. We graded the encounter and we discussed what impact this would have on programs in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic

The impression was of excellent organization, attention, and quality of people.

The presentations were of excellent scientific quality, with new items and old items.

We agreed that we would meet with the health officials in our country, particularly those in neurology, and that we would organize events for disseminating information. In September of 2004 we will train teacher trainers. We made an arrangement with Jairo Zuluaga to come to the Dominican Republic and give some conferences. An agreement was made with Prof. Guadalupe Malagon for support and exchange with the University of Veracruz. We also proposed that the conferences be alternated with workshops.

Jamaica (Leonie Gray)

The workshop was very informative. The presentations were good and we plan on applying some of what we've learned to Jamaica. Some of these new strategies will be used in workshops, in practical hands on training, and will be shared with colleagues etc. to enhance our early childhood development.

Suriname (Marian Mack-Van Kats)

Excellent organization. The information was up to date. Scientific contents were very good. We have thought of implementing the strategies with the Ministries of Education, Health, and Social transformation. We also need to stress the importance of Early Childhood Development. Support the improvement of standards. We need to place more emphasis on teacher training. It is important to have really well trained personnel.

Barbados (Catherine Blackman)

Very informative conference. The information on neuroscience is new. I plan to do more research in the neurosciences. Communicate with the ministries and stress that they should place more attention on the 0-3 age groups. We have a good program for 4-7 year olds but we need to work more with the earlier groups. So we need to work with the different ministries, with different targets, to advance. I recognize that we need to reexamine what is happening with medicines that are used. I was overtaken by the research presented on Ritalin use and I do know if we are still using some of these medicines. I am disturbed by the statistics on Ritalin and children and so I would like to send this information to others in the ministries in my country.

Antigua and Barbuda (Idona George)

Excellent conference. I am very impressed with the use of young children at the beginning of the conference. Including them in the program the way you did is a good idea. I am also quite impressed with the lectures that focused on the neurosciences and with the presentation and film on ADHD. In Antigua and Barbuda students are being diagnosed with this, are given medication, but some of them are not being monitored. I will share the information I gleaned when I return to my country.

The Early Childhood Education program is not established in my country as it is in others. In my country the government and the Ministry of Education provide for free education for the 5 – 16 year olds; preschools are privately owned. This conference has opened my eyes and has caused me to realize that we need to focus on the earlier ages as well, and cater for the 0 - 6 age group as suggested in this conference. I have to sell Early Childhood Education to the Ministry.

St. Lucia (Ruth Phillip Dennehy)

The conference was excellent. I liked idea of having kids there. The neuroscience presentations were excellent and very informative. There was an excellent balance in theory and in practical components. The meeting was well put together. I liked the inclusion of music and movements. I would suggest for the future that more interpreters are provided for the various workshops.

St. Kitts and Nevis (Ruth Thomas)

I am impressed by the organization. We got a good impression even before we got started. This gave us a good impression of the country. During the conference we got the idea of a growing group of dedicated professionals who made good quality presentations. There was always someone there to help us explain or translate.

The need for proper training came out as did the need to work along with other people in other fields in health. Early Childhood teachers try to work on these things alone in our country. When I return, I will have discussions at the ministry level to see how we can improve this. Upon returning I would like to organize conferences. Here I heard it and here I saw an integrated program for the whole child. I have also decided that I want to learn Spanish when I return to my country.

Dominican Republic

We would like to invite you to take a Spanish course in the Dominican Republic.

Saint Lucia (Marguerite Gustave)

I would like to say that it was a well organized conference. The information was up to date and excellent. I think that the research presented was excellent. Some of the topics were familiar to me and some were new but there were new strategies for looking at the same topics. I observed the need for agencies to work together. We are not just talking about integration we need to operationalize it. The issue of diversity was also evident. The language barrier was not that difficult because the people were so hospitable.

Since we came from thousands of miles away, I do think the presentations that we made should have been longer (rather we should have been allotted more time). If we are talking about equality then we have to be consistent.

From the conference and visits I saw the importance not only of training but retraining.

As we return we have to talk about managing relationships. In terms of curriculum, about constantly reviewing the curriculum. I think this whole experience was really refreshing.

Grenada (Ivy B. Harris)

I want to thank the OAS. It's good to talk at the end because you can always just reaffirm what everyone else has said. We are now looking at assessing the ECD program in Grenada to see if the literacy failure in higher grades really starts at the preschool level. I think that this experience will inform the evaluation.

The Neuroscience part was very informative. I will be returning and discussing these findings with all. I particularly liked the idea parent teaching programs. I would like to strengthen this aspect. Experience will improve Teacher Training aspects.

More emphasis will be placed on scientific research. On the whole the conference was good and will definitely inform our work and evaluation.

Dr. Gaby Fujimoto (OAS)

Now we will give Dr. Martinez (co-organizer of the event) a chance to respond to your comments.

Dr. Martinez (Co-organizer of IV International Meeting)

I am very happy with the presence of our friends from the Caribbean . The experience has been very positive and interesting. Most people here probably don't even know where most of your countries are. I agree that 7 minutes is too little to talk. Coming to the conference, we got a chance to get to know each other. I agree that the participants would have liked to learned more about your countries, what you are doing in Early Childhood Development, etc.

It is important to let you know that every time this event is done it gets bigger and more expensive. Sometimes there are logistical things that cannot be attended to, due to economic considerations. For example in terms of organization, it is not easy to transport 1500 persons from one place to another every morning and evening. We originally had plenty of time to organize. As the conference grew in topics and participants this time became shorter. Of course, the panel for the Caribbean was added at the end of this process and for this reason the time allotted for your presentations was limited. Also there were some participants who spoke more than their allotted time and so we had too adjust. But always when there is a conference we have to adjust. Perhaps at next year's conference the Caribbean can hold a workshop of 2 hours. Now that we have presented your countries to the other participants, next year you can consider returning to do a longer workshop.

Dr. Gaby Fujimoto (OAS)

In response to this, I would also like to mention that the idea for this first time was to allow you to present in the plenary in front of 1,400 people.

Dr. Martinez.

I learned a lot from your presentations.

St. Kitts and Nevis (Ruth Thomas)

How do you organize such big conferences so successfully?

The key to these large conferences is to have someone responsible for each group. Creating teams is also good because individuals are less likely to participate in all the events.

Dr. Gaby Fujimoto (OAS)

Leadership is important. One person needs to authorize things and to lead. This person is the General Director, Guadalupe Martinez.

Now we will proceed to comment upon our visits to the CENDIS.

The lessons learned from the visits to the CENDIS

Barbados (Donna Maynard )

We visited CENDIS # 2 and in our visit we focused primarily on Pedagogy.

Within the curriculum, the integration of different dimensions (social, emotional, intellectual) was impressive. The presence of the parents in the CENDIS is important. For each dimension of the child's development the center had an assistant or expert attending and monitoring the development of the child. We were very impressed with the integration of the staff at the CENDIS and the connection with the parents and the community. Also impressive is the constant monitoring and evaluation of the children's development.

In all places, support personnel were in place. The kids are definitely benefiting from this experience. The centers are taking charge of the education of the whole child. They have engaged the whole community. Their program is very structured and at the same time is flexible because it is centered on the child. They cater to the needs of the child.

In terms of procedures for enrolment, all children go through medical exams. The

mother must prove she is working and has to sign a contract as well. The entrance and exit exams of the students each day is impressive. The school provides immediate feedback to the parents.

In terms of links with the communities, as I mentioned, the school provides parents with a daily assessment. The lunch is also displayed at the entrance of the school so the parents can see what their child will eat.

In terms of the practices and strategies, there are various activities that involve the parents at home. Saturday mornings of each month the center provides training for food preparation and parents are invited to these sessions. In addition, parents are given information on how to continue what goes on in the school and the children are encouraged to go home and involve their parents in investigating different topics.

In addition there are other programs with the community and in particular with the woman. The center doctors offer pap smears, HIV aids tests, and other medical tests and services.

The original land where the center is, was a dump. There was a contaminated well that was a source of infection in the community. The CENDIS cleaned up the area, covered the contaminated well, and built swings and a play area for the children of the community.

In terms of integrating persons with special gifts, the CENDIS continually assess the kids progress and respond accordingly to these individual progress reports.

Practices and policies for promoting entrance into the primary school:

Each child has a file. They have an activity for taking the child to the primary school.

In terms of teachers manuals and guide. The ministry of education has set teacher manual that CENDIS have adapted. They have a system where the actual teaching activities come from the teachers themselves and the children. They have themes each week which structure the activities and they have a manual of procedures, which sets out ways in which the teacher can deliver the information.

We observed that all are women, except the doctor. All the teachers have a degree and assistants have at least a high school degree. The teachers are encouraged to continue their studies and the institute pays 50% of the tuition.

The population where the center is located is of a low economic level. Many parents at the center here are prostitutes or house workers.

Suriname (Rika E. Etchteld)

I also want to stress that there is evidence of clear policies, a mission, and a vision.

I would also like to add that I heard that the system is based on that of Cuba.

St. Lucia (Ruth Phillip Dennehy)

I noticed that the children were always in large groups. I did not have time to ask about this.

St Kitts and Nevis (Ruth Thomas)

I noticed they also have a camera in each room.

Dr. Gaby Fujimoto (OAS)

These cameras also serve so that ministry officials can observe without going inside.

Barbados (Donna Maynard)

There is a contract that the parents sign. If they do not complete it, then the children are reprimanded.

Suriname (Marian Mack-Van Kats)

There are high standards of hygiene. The learning environment was pleasant. There were pictures on the walls that illustrated the activities. I thought that these play materials and the pictures were a little bit too high. Do they have free choice?

Jamaica (Leonie Gray)

The children decide.

St. Kitts and Nevis (Ruth Thomas)

The children learn they cannot have everything. For that reason they have the things higher up there.

Dominican Republic

Policies. We are very impressed by a very strict hygiene policy. It is very innovative.

Barbados (Catherine Blackman)

I noticed the whole team approach. Whether it be for health, psychology, or other areas. I think that this is very important. I wonder though, why everything seems to be provided for the children. I did not see the display of the children's efforts. That concerns me. I personally think that children need to see their efforts and everything seemed to be done by the facilitator.

The environment appeared very sterile. The environment seemed almost like a hospital.

The pictures as well.

Antigua and Barbuda (Idona George)

I agree. All babies sleeping at the same time, waking at the same time. How did they get them to do this? We are talking about diversity but why are we seeing such mechanistic routines?

Dominican Republic

In terms of diversity. I think that there is a lot of diversity. The centers do a general assessment and they can do a tailored program based on the individual assessment. I think it is a very complete program and that diversity is integrated into the program.

St. Lucia (Ruth Philip-Dennehy)

The program has a balanced curriculum. I don't think that the structure is forced. There is karate, dancing, and music and these activities make the body naturally tired. That is why they all sleep.

Dominican Republic

Within the part we observed. We went to the preschool we observed that they do attend to diversity. For example, they were going out to lunch but if one kid gets tired then they have beds where these kids can rest. There was a lot of individualized and specialized attention.

Antigua and Barbuda (Idona George)_

It is an excellent program, but the program is not perfect.

St. Kitts and Nevis (Ruth Thomas)

I think there is an over emphasis on hygiene. But maybe the parents learn from this too? When we went in certain areas we had to put protection on our heads and over our mouth and nose. I thought it was very important component of the program because usually people of this socio-economic level are not so concerned with hygiene.

Jorge Baxter (OAS)

Our group visited CENDIS #2, which is in one of the poorest sectors in Monterrey. Many of the mothers are working as prostitutes. We were told that when the center was founded in the early 90s the mothers would come to the school to drop off their children, dirty and unkempt. The staff have noticed that over the years, as more kids have graduated, there has been an improvement in the hygiene habits of community members. Those same mothers over time are coming to the school with a better appearance, more clean, and better kept. The school staff attributes this change to the strict hygiene program they have enforced at the CENDIS with children and visitors.

Barbados (Donna Maynard)

When we refer to a sterile environment, we refer more to the humanity of the environment, the walls, not to the sterile environment.

Gaby Fujimoto (OAS)

We have to understand that in terms of diversity. I think you are being a little too strict when they themselves have admitted to this. What is in the culture is reflected in the curriculum, diversity is very ample, and if we capture some of these. If we have been invited it is because the CENDIS have recognized that they need to improve.

Regarding the question of routine. When dealing with children you have to set routines. It is good for them. In the U.S. it is law that the kids have to take a knap during school hours and this applies to children up to 6 years old.

Suriname (Marian Mack-Van Kats)The CENDIS have very devoted teachers. The children are under control and they keep the children interested and active. Its done very well.

We asked about including children with disabilities. They responded that it is law to integrate them. We were impressed by the meticulous record keeping for following the development of the child in the different domains.

Barbados (Catherine Blackman)

I asked what happens to the children after the CENDIS? Because they don't want to be stigmatized.

T he information on the children who graduate is distributed by the social worker.

Dominican Republic

They have programs of transition where the kids visit the primary school .

But they are careful to not pigeonhole the child with the information.