Oct. 20, 2004

Dean Futrell Honored with US Laureate of UNESCO Medal

By Greg Licamele

Mary Hatwood Futrell, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, was named US laureate of the Jan Amos Comenius Medal for her advocacy of quality education. She received the medal at the International Conference on Education on Sept. 10 in Geneva, Switzerland. Laureates also were selected from Haiti, Lithuania, Jordan, Pakistan, Benin and Chile. The award, created in 1992 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic, recognizes outstanding achievements and innovations in the fields of teaching and educational research. It is one of UNESCO’s most prestigious honors.

Futrell was nominated for the Comenius Medal based on her firm belief in and constant fight for education for all people, especially women and girls, relentless advocacy of universal human rights and respect for diversity. Some examples of her work include membership in UNESCO’s high-level group on education for all and on the UNICEF board of directors, as well as her work with the World Confederation of Organizations for the Teaching Profession and Education International.

During her acceptance speech, Futrell said, “Because of the disparities in national resources, some nations are reforming their education systems while others are struggling to establish systems of education. All nations recognize the critical role that education plays in securing the future of their country and ensuring the quality of life of its population.”

She also acknowledged the line that separates the well educated from the poorly educated, or those denied access to education, is the harshest fault line of all. “To permanently erase that line requires that we guarantee every citizen not just the right to be educated, but indeed an education.”

Futrell’s contributions to academic journals on topics such as diversity, education reforms and professional development also attributed to her selection. Her work as a senior consultant for the Quality Education for Minorities Network, co-director of the GW Center for Curriculum, Standards and Technology, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, and the Holmes Partnership also were acknowledged.

The medal’s namesake, Jan Amos Comenius, a 17th-century, Czech-born philosopher, bishop, author and educator, was a pioneer of universal education. In an age of harsh discipline and severe learning environments, Comenius believed in learning through experience rather than rote memory, a defined curriculum for primary school that is still used today.

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