In August 2011 Yasuko Fujioka, a doctoral course student and a part-time lecturer in the Department of Human Development at Aichi Prefectural University in Japan, came to New Haven to continue her research on the Comer School Development Program, the focus of her dissertation. Yasuko returned to New Haven in April 2012 to meet with Dr. Comer and members of the SDP faculty and to see the Comer Process in operation.
Yasuko met with Dr. Comer in his office at the Yale Child Study Center fulfilling what she said was a dream she has had for 10 years. “I sincerely appreciated Dr. Comer taking the time and granting me the precious opportunity,” said Yasuko. “He's smart, sophisticated, warm, and considerate with his face beaming with smiles. I was so impressed with his philosophy that is profound and essential for the quality of the developmental experience for all students. I am very happy beyond words that Dr. Comer said to me, ‘I am honored that you are working on a dissertation based on our SDP.’ To meet Dr. Comer in person and get his advice for me has been a treasure.”
Yasuko shadowed Shelia Brantley, New Haven’s District Comer Facilitator, accompanying her to a School Planning and Management Team at Davis Street School, Student and Staff Support Team (SSST) meetings at East Rock and Co-op, and the monthly meeting of the Co-op Parent Team. “I was so impressed with the positive relationship between the parent leaders and the principal at Co-op. It was interesting to note that the parent leaders’ proposal was well thought out and creative; the principal listened sincerely to the voices of them, and responded to them respectfully. They have been developing the shared responsibility among the participants. I was also impressed by how Ms. Shelia Brantley provided suggestions to the team, and how she encouraged each them to become their own facilitators.”
A City-Wide Democratic Learning Organization Created by Parent Leaders
Yasuko also attended a Citywide PTO meeting at Wilbur Cross High School. “I was really fortunate to participate in such a wonderful event. I was so impressed that parent leaders across the city have created a democratic learning organization. Shelia’s workshop was excellent. She facilitated the reflection of each parent leader’s efforts to develop a common purpose among parents in their schools.”
Yasuko also attended a workshop at L.W. Beecher Museum School of Arts & Sciences on integrating the Developmental Pathways in the classroom conducted by Dr. Fay E. Brown and Larissa Giordano, a 4th grade teacher at Nathan Hale School. Yasuko met Larissa last summer at a meeting with several of her colleagues and principal, Lucia Paolella. “Larissa’s presentation and her curriculum were excellent and creative. She effectively integrates the Six Developmental Pathways and the Three Guiding Principles into her class and her students’ daily lives. Dr. Brown encouraged teachers to be reflective practitioners.”
While she was planning her second visit to New Haven, I told Yasuko that Michele Alex’s 6th grade class at Benjamin Jepson School had raised $600 for Doctors Without Borders to help people affected by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan in March 2011. She wanted to thank them personally for helping people in her country. She also wanted to learn more about how their humanitarian response had grown out of their knowledge of the Six Developmental Pathways. The students called it “Pathways With a Purpose.”
Two of Michele’s students met us at the front door and brought us to principal Peggy Pelley’s office where Yasuko presented her with a beautiful Japanese fan. There were signs welcoming Yasuko along the way to Room 325. “The students gave me such a wonderful experience: beautiful welcome pictures from entrance to classroom; smart kids escorting me; the good questions the kids asked; and the nice presentations,” said Yasuko. “Ms. Alex’s class is just awesome. I felt they have surely grown with the Developmental Pathways.”
Reflections on Her April 2012 Visit New Haven
Reflecting on her second visit to New Haven after returning to her home in Nagoya, Japan, Yasuko said that she was “very happy to share with all your collaborative efforts and to see a lot of creative approaches to whole child development. I learned that the collaborative efforts using the SDP have created effective learning communities in their schools. The evidence of real power showed me the great potential of focusing on developing positive interpersonal relationships among school participants (among students, staff, and parents).”