US embassy cable - 05VILNIUS647

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000647 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IIP/G/EUR FOR KELLISON AND CSIEMONH 
EUR/PD FOR JLOCKARD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, LH, HT46 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SPEAKER TO DISCUSS ETHICS, EDUCATION 
REFORM IN LITHUANIA 
 
1. PROGRAM OVERVIEW: The Embassy would like to invite Dr. 
Peter Greer to discuss short- and long-term strategies 
for the introduction and implementation of ethics education 
programs at the local and national levels.  Dr. Greer would 
conduct a seminar on the importance of ethics integration 
into the school curriculum. He would share lessons 
Lithuanian schools can learn from American experience in 
ethics and character education at the secondary school 
level. In addition, Dr. Greer would lecture on ethics and 
character teaching strategies, working with parents, and 
student activities that develop character.  We request this 
program for late September, early October 2005. 
 
2. TIME FRAME: Four working days in late September, early 
October 2005, depending on the speakers availability. 
 
3. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM:  (A) Ethics and educational 
reform are key topics in Lithuania right now.  Dr. Greers 
seminar would prove a valuable contribution to an ongoing 
Regional Ethics and Leadership Institutes (RELI) project 
Character Education Initiative: Values Bridge US- 
Lithuania. Dr Greers seminar would enhance the efforts of 
the Embassy to improve ethics and anticorruption 
programming in Lithuania. 
 
(B) The effort to improve ethics education in Lithuania 
enjoys the full support of the Presidency and the Ministry 
of Education and Science; a large and diverse group of 
individuals is expected to benefit from this topic. This 
includes over 200 teachers and administrators, 
superintendents of school districts and representatives 
from the Ministry of Education and the Presidents office. 
We also plan to conduct a seminar and/or consultations with 
s with 
the Special Investigations Service in Lithuania that 
conducts anti-corruption and ethics programs for youth. 
 
4. SPEAKER BIO: Dr. Peter Greer is former Headmaster of the 
Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, New Jersey. Dr. 
Greer is formerly the Dean of the School of Education and 
Professor at Boston University, Superintendent ad interim 
of the Chelsea, Massachusetts, Public Schools, and United 
States Deputy Under Secretary of Education under President 
Reagan. Dr. Greer is one of the leading experts in the US 
on ethics and character education.  Full bio available. His 
Academy also hosted a group of Lithuania administrators 
earlier this year to discuss ethics in education. 
 
5. AUDIENCE: Seminar Participants will include: Teachers 
and administrators; school superintendents; officials of 
the President's Office and the Ministry of Education of 
Lithuania; and officials of the Special Investigations 
Service.  A unique aspect of the program is that it will 
target schools in small towns and broaden Embassy access to 
such schools for future programming. 
 
6. SPECIALIST REQUIRED: 
Dr. Peter Greer, Headmaster, 
Montclair Kimberley Academy, 
201 Valley Road Montclair, NJ 07042 
Tel. 973-746-9800 
 
7. PROPOSED TOPICS: 
-- Ethics and character teaching strategies; 
-- Working with parents; 
-- National youth-oriented ethics and anti-corruption 
programs; and 
-- Student activities that help the formation of character. 
 
8. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: None. 
 
9. SUPPORTING MATERIALS:  None, unless requested by 
speaker. 
 
10. MISSION CONTACT: 
 
Ingrida Sidlauskiene 
Cultural Affairs Specialist 
e-mail: SidlauskieneI@state.gov 
Tel. +370 5 2660 330 
 
APAO Randolph B Flay 
e-mail: flayrb@state.gov 
Tel. +370 5 2660 330 
 
PAO Anthony A. Pahigian 
e-mail: Pahigianaa@state.gov 
Tel. +370 5 2660 330 
 
11. FUNDING: The Embassy requests the use of FY05 I-Bucks 
for this event. 
 
MULL