UMass Amherst Hosts Informational Session for International Educators at Center for Racial Justice

The Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research (CRJ) recently welcomed a group of 20 international teachers participating in the Department of State’s Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Secondary School Educators to engage with American peers, examine the U.S. democratic system and learn about a range of topics including the tension between individual rights and social responsibilities.

The June 18 visit was hosted by the Institute for Training and Development, Inc. (ITD), an Amherst-based nonprofit organization that applies for grants to bring teachers and scholars together from across the globe as part of its mission to promote education and inter-cultural exchange.

Facilitated by the CRJ’s graduate student representatives, the visit to Furcolo Hall included a tour, presentations of CRJ’s programs, discussion and informal question-and-answer session.

After visiting with CRJ representatives, the educators will travel to Arizona and Washington, D.C., to gain a broader perspective about the United States. The experience helps educators develop curriculum units and other projects to be implemented in their home countries and shared. Most of the visiting educators teach English in countries including Cyprus, Argentina, Norway, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia and Botswana.