In Memoriam
Elisabeth S. Hirsch, a professor emeritus of The City College of New York, passed away, after a long illness, in February 2014. Born in Budapest, Hungary, she was a Holocaust survivor and a wife and mother whose career included many years as an early childhood teacher at the Little Red School in New York City followed by many more years as a professor of early childhood education at The City College of New York.
She was the author of seminal early childhood publications, the most renowned of which are The Block Book and Transition Periods: A Stumbling Block of Education – both published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. These timeless works have supported thousands of early childhood educators – across the nation and the world – to become better teachers. Grounded in a deep understanding of child development, they make complex ideas and issues easy to understand, demonstrating in a down-to-earth way how teachers and schools can facilitate young children’s optimal development by supporting the active nature of their learning and nurturing their social/emotional lives.
Lisa – as she was known to her colleagues, students, and friends – was a great mentor and advocate for young children. We each can honor her legacy through our commitment to continuing her work of ensuring the realization of high quality early childhood education for all.
Beverly Falk, Ed.D.