Erikson ongoing

Present at the creation
Speaking at the 2010 commencement ceremony, honoree Bernice Weissbourd made the following remarks.

“I remember, many years ago, when Maria Piers came to my house in Hyde Park to talk about an idea she had. She was concerned that Head Start was growing rapidly all over the country, and there just weren’t enough trained teachers to serve young children well.

“Planning with Barbara Bowman and Lorraine Wallach, this idea germinated into what Erikson Institute is today—a nationally and internationally known school for the very best education in a comprehensive understanding of early childhood.

“Harboring such memories, I’m a bit overwhelmed to be receiving this honorary degree.

“And along with those personal feelings are my thoughts as a professional in the field. In these years, the society has moved from a concern about kids starting at first grade to a focus on children’s development from birth. Erikson has been, and under the direction of Sam Meisels will continue to be, a leader in this cultural revolution—a change towards children which affects our political, economic, and social landscape.

“So I accept this honor with heartfelt personal thanks, and with deep appreciation of the eminence of Erikson Institute.”