asked the Minister for Education the major lessons learned from the Rutland St. Project; and how they have been applied in the education of disadvantaged children.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Children.
382.
The main lesson of the Rutland Street Project is that the effectiveness of educational intervention is likely to be increased if accompanied by radical change in the total environment. The operation of the project provided clear evidence of the importance of an active role by parents in a disadvantaged area in the educational development of their children.
The findings also revealed the differential effects of the out-of-school environment on the development of school-related skills in young children. The experience gained from the project has, among other sources, provided the basis for innovatory practices in curriculum development, the in-service training of teachers and the active involvement of parents in the educational process.