News/Events

Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012

lecture

Judith Duncan, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

3:30 PM

Standardization and conformity: A critique of New Zealand's early childhood neoliberal politics

Campus Center 917

Dr. Duncan is an early childhood education and care scholar whose research influences policy for young children and their families in New Zealand and abroad. Professor Duncan draws on postmodern childhood studies and socio-cultural theories to critique current cultural assumptions underlying early childhood education, support for families, and early childhood education pedagogy. Professor Duncan began her academic career after working as a kindergarten teacher, childcare supervisor, and after-school program teacher. With a firm commitment to affecting policy and practice, she bridges her scholarly work with advocacy for children and families, professionals working with children, and broader policy change. She combines a background of child advocacy and work with children’s rights at the University of Otago, with her current position in teacher education at the University of Canterbury. 

This presentation is sponsored by the Center for Research on Families Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series, the Center for Public Policy and Administration, the UMass Amherst Department of Political Science, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series is a forum which brings nationally recognized speakers with expertise in research relevant to families to campus and began in 1999 through an endowment established in memory of Tay Gavin Erickson.