Child Development Offers Growth Experience
Judy Del Castillo
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Features
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The department, which is housed within the Child Development Center behind the parking structure off Mountain Street, both make up the hands-on experience and academics for students, said Deborah Owens, department chair who oversees the academic program.
The department was created in 1940 to meet the demands of childhood education and to prepare students for that field.
As stated on its Web site, www.glendale.edu/cdc, the goal of the department is to prepare future teachers to act in a "culturally diverse world," with emphasis on teaching, establishing positive relationships between students and serving as a role model in education.
Students interested in child development may work directly or indirectly with children in areas such as education, psychology, pediatric medicine, social services and child care.
The lab school is recognized by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs and serves as an on-site teaching center for students in a group environment, where students are accompanied by teachers to learn and to meet the needs of children up to 12-years-old. The Mentor Teacher Program recruits experienced teachers to provide training and assistance for these students.
"GCC has one of the best Child Education programs out there," said Maria, 26, a student who wished to be identified only by her first name. "Sometimes it's hard learning material through books, and you get a better feel of what is being taught when you're given the chance to interact with the children on a personal experience."
The academic program currently offers five certificates, with three of them being equivalent to the Child Development Permit requirements issued by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. Each permit has its own requirements that authorize a person to perform within that specific level of service in the child development curriculum.
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