Lady Bird Johnson symposium focuses on early childhood education

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
November 1, 2012

Texas State University will host a Symposium on Early Childhood Education Nov. 8 to mark the 100th birthday of the late C.A. "Lady Bird" Johnson.

The symposium and birthday celebration is in recognition of her work as the honorary chair of the board of the original Head Start program, her service in the War on Poverty and her active role in structuring and defending the Great Society.

This symposium will run 1 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and feature keynote speaker Vivian Gussin Paley, a lauded teacher and author, and MacArthur “genius grant” recipient. The symposium will focus on public discourse about the implications of Head Start, early childhood education and education beyond the younger years on the most vulnerable members of the diverse society of Texas--its children--while recognizing and celebrating the life of Lady Bird Johnson.

The events will include with two discussion panels in the Alkek Library's Witliff Collections. The first panel will address early childhood practice and begin at 1 p.m. The second will address early childhood policy and begin at 3 p.m. Paley, author of many books including The Girl with the Brown Crayon, will speak in the Alkek Teaching Theatre, 6-7 p.m.

The symposium will also feature a screening of a documentary by Emmy Award-winning director Robert Currie. The film presents a historical perspective of Head Start and Lady Bird Johnson's involvement in that program as well as the war on poverty.

For additional information, visit www.education.txstate.edu/ci/news/lbj-event.html.