Allen Shares Work in Georgia Schools With Educators in Estonia, Latvia

Lewis Allen, co-director of the League of Professional Schools, spoke to educators in Estonia and Latvia last month about the League of Professional School's work with Georgia public schools.

The League, based in the College's department of elementary and social studies education, comprises nearly two dozen public schools throughout Georgia whose teachers and administrators have committed to becoming more knowledgeable and purposeful about planning and implementing changes in teaching and learning. Needed school improvements are democratically determined and the consequences of changes are studied using action research.

Co-directed by Kathy Thompson, the League explores how to provide students with strong academic and social skills, problem-solving abilities, and civic attitudes that will equip them to work for a better democratic life for all. 

Allen made two presentations to educators from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and the U.S. at the International Civic Education Conference on April 17-20 in Tallin, Estonia. He also visited Estonian schools interacting with teachers, administrators and students, and met with the current and several past Estonian Ministers of Education at the Estonian Parliament. The conference was presented by the Civitas Baltic States Project.

Allen teamed with the director of the Social Studies Development Center of Indiana University to make two presentations at the University of Latvia in Riga, Latvia. The pair spoke first to university professors from across Estonia and then to a group of practicing social studies teachers from the Riga area. 

Allen says the League will continue to work with education professors from around the world who are interested in the democratic education initiative. 

For more about the League and its Democratic Learning Initiative:
www.leagueschools.com  

Monday, May 9, 2005
Writer: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mdchilds@uga.edu
Contact: Lewis Allen, 706/542-2523, lewallen@uga.edu