He has just trailed about a dozen children bounding from one corner of the playground to its center. As he watches a breakaway group of two boys and a girl pursue a boy with a ball, the ball appearing to be the attraction, a girl asks him for help. So goes the socialization process at this school that's international in flavor. The little faces bear out Douglas' noting that two-thirds of the students come from outside the United States. People come back all the time and say this was one of the best experiences they've ever had.
Diversity is a trait of the center in many ways.
In addition to Ellis, the teacher gathering funds for medical school, Douglas' part-time teachers include a student working on a doctorate in child development and one in law school. The center attracts students conducting studies in a wide range of fields, including music, music therapy and nursing. One of the main things we're doing here is training teachers. She and the staff also conduct research. An upcoming project will focus on how children learn, whether through auditory, visual, tactile or kinesthetic means.