 |
AMS and Public Policy
AMS and the United Nations
AMS Public Policy Commitee
Resources
Related Links
Position and Issue Papers
In 2001, the American Montessori Society Board of Directors established
a Strategic Plan and determined five major goals. One of
the goals was for AMS to venture into the public policy arena and
to be a “public advocate for the Montessori education community
and the constituents it serves.”
To date, our efforts have centered on providing public policy discussion
groups at AMS events, establishing a Public Policy Task Force,
and enlisting high profile public policy advocates, such as Senator
Christopher J. Dodd (Senior member, Senate Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions Committee; Founder, Senate Children’s Caucus),
Dr. Pedro Noguera (Professor, Steinhardt School of Education at
New York University; Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for
Urban Education), Joe McTighe (Executive Director, Council for
American Private Education), and Jonathan Kozol (author, Death
at an Early Age, The Shame of the Nation) to speak at our conferences.
Achievements include representation at the United Nations and at
the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), membership in
the Children's Defense Fund, and formation of a Public Policy Committee.
AMS and the United Nations
The American Montessori Society is recognized as a non-governmental organization
(NGO) by the United Nations.
AMS’s NGO representatives attend UN briefings
and report back to AMS in support of the work of the UN, thereby building knowledge
of and support for the organization at the grassroots level.
AMS’s NGO representatives are:
- Lesley Nan Haberman –
head of The Family School and The Family School West, NYC
- Dr. Ruth Corey Selman
(alternate representative)
– founder of four Montessori schools and AMS representative for 20 years
- Marie M. Dugan (alternate
representative)
– former executive director and former board resident of AMS; former
head of Wilmington Montessori School, DE
- Richard A. Ungerer – executive
director of AMS
AMS Public Policy Committee
Mission
The Public Policy Committee will actively support AMS and its Strategic Goal
to be a growing public policy advocate for the Montessori education community
and the constituents it serves by being active in the influence of public policy
related to education of children and youth, state educational standards, licensing
issues, concerns relating to Montessori philosophy, and policies relating to
children and families.
Members
Michelle Hammons, Chair
Judith Bauerlein
Marie M. Dugan
Barb Jens
Catherine Maresca, Ex Officio
Anna Perry
Dennis Schapiro, Ex Officio
Doris Sommer, Ex Officio
Marilyn E. Stewart, Ex Officio
Richard A. Ungerer, Ex Officio
Bretta Weiss Wolff
One of the strategies of the Public Policy Committee, in conjunction
with the AMS Board of Directors and staff, is to maintain a dynamic
Website with information about current issues in education, and
related resources. The presence of this information on the Website
does not suggest that the Committee is speaking for the entire
AMS community but rather that the Committee has determined
that the information is of interest or importance from a Montessori
philosophical perspective, or because it relates to education in
general. If you have topics or resources that you would like to
bring to the Committee’s attention, please contact either
of the chairpersons, above.
Resources
Association for Curriculum and Development
The ASCD
Web site has a wealth of information about programs, products,
and services essential to the way educators learn, teach, and
lead. Subscribe to ASCD
SmartBrief, a free daily e-mails news
service that provides summaries and links to major education
stories and issues; and ASCD
Express, a free e-mail with articles,
tips and video
Children’s Defense Fund Newsletter
The Children's Defense Fund has an informative, action-centered,
monthly newsletter. To subscribe, go to www.ChildrensDefense.org.
Through the newsletter, you will be kept abreast of legislation
impacting children, particularly those who are from low income
families and/or minority groups, or disabled, and ideas about specific
actions you may choose to participate in.
Peace Alliance Web Site
The Peace
Alliance Web site is
a resource for information about peace education and conflict resolution.
Under the sidebar “Act
Now!” you can sign up to register for newsletters for both
the national and state levels. Those who are interested in lobbying
to establish a U.S. Department of Peace might be interested in
some of the related action items outlined on the website.
The Nation
The Nation Web site has a mechanism for writing to your elected officials. There
are also many articles of interest, including “The
Care Crisis,” (March
12, 2007), which addresses the issues of the working mother and encourages action.
Related Links
Position and Issue Papers
The most recent issue paper adopted by the AMS Board of Directors
was on “Montessori and State Funded Pre-Kindergarten.” The
paper was adopted on August 16, 2008.
For a complete listing of AMS Position and Issue Papers, click
here.
|
