Barbara T. Bowman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara T. Bowman
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| Born |
Barbara Taylor
October 30, 1928 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | November 4, 2024 (aged 96) |
| Education | Sarah Lawrence College (BA) University of Chicago (MA) |
| Occupation | Early childhood education advocate |
| Years active | 50+ |
| Known for | Co-founder of Erikson Institute |
| Board member of | Business People in the Public Interest, Chicago Public Library Foundation, Great Books Foundation, High Scope Educational Foundation, Institute for Psychoanalysis, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards |
| Spouse(s) | James E. Bowman, M.D. |
| Children | Valerie Jarrett |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Robert Robinson Taylor (grandfather) |
Barbara Taylor Bowman (born October 30, 1928 – died November 4, 2024) was an American expert, teacher, and writer. She cared deeply about how young children learn. She focused on early childhood care and education. She also worked to make sure all children, especially those from different backgrounds or who didn't have much money, got a fair chance at a good education.
Barbara Bowman helped start the Erikson Institute. There, she created new ways to teach about early childhood education. She also served on many important groups and boards.
Early Life and School
Barbara Bowman was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Robert Rochon Taylor, was on the board of the Chicago Housing Authority. Her grandfather was a famous architect named Robert Robinson Taylor. Her family was African-American.
She went to Sarah Lawrence College and earned a bachelor's degree. After that, she started teaching at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools' nursery school. While teaching, she also earned her master's degree in education from the University of Chicago in 1952.
Her Career
Barbara Bowman was inspired by a big government effort called the "War on Poverty." This led to the creation of the Head Start program in 1965. Head Start helps young children from low-income families get ready for school.
The next year, in 1966, she helped start the Chicago School for Early Childhood Education. This school is now known as the Erikson Institute. She started it with child psychologist Maria Piers and social worker Lorraine Wallach. A businessman named Irving B. Harris also supported their work.
Barbara Bowman later became the president of the Erikson Institute from 1994 to 2001. She also continued to teach there as a special professor. Today, a special teaching position at the institute is named after her.
She also served as the main leader for early childhood education in the Chicago Public Schools. She was also the past president of a big national group called the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She was on many other important boards too. These included the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Great Books Foundation. She received many special degrees from different universities for her work. She also helped guide important research about how young children learn.
Her Family
Barbara Bowman was married to James E. Bowman. He was a well-known doctor who studied diseases and genetics. He was also the first Black resident doctor at St. Luke's Hospital.
They had one daughter, Valerie Jarrett. Valerie Jarrett was a very important advisor to President Barack Obama. Barbara Bowman died in November 2024, when she was 96 years old.
Awards She Received
- Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children Outstanding Service to Children Award
- Chicago League of Women Voters' Civic Contribution Award
- Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, 2005
- Mercedes Award
- National Black Child Development Institute Leadership Award
- Voices for Illinois' Children Start Early Award
- Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis Human Spirit Award
