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Gerda SULAthe Albanian society, hence the school. The assimilation principle: all are equal, thesame curricula, the same evaluation, the same destiny, is a handicap of the Albanianschool derived from the input-driven system.This change in attitude shows that the participants put less blame on the childrenfor poor academic performance and that they are more understanding towards thedifficulties different children face because of their lower starting points. Examplesfor other groups of children (Roma, poor economic status, etc) were present as well.But this is not enough. The sentence used as the title for this article, illustrates thatchange did happen, and it did make a difference in the life of at least this 8 year oldRoma boy, who said in the after-the-intervention focus group:“I now like the school better, because I now am my teacher’s bunny.”Gerda Sula is a lecturer involved in teacher preparation Master programs at theFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana, and also the Executive Director ofQendra Hap pas Hapi. She is also Ph.D. student at the University of Geneva. Hermain interests are applying child-centered philosophy in Albania’s traditional teachingenvironment in early childhood education. She has served as a consultant for severalGovernment and International organizations, as UNICEF Kosovo, UNICEF Albania,World Bank, Ministry of Education and Sciences in Albania, Plan International, etc.She has published several articles in national and international professional journals,and chapters in professional books. She has held innumerous trainings in local,national, regional and international levels, as well as presented at different nationaland international conferences. She has served as a Member of different national andinternational organizations, as well as in committees of several events, includingscientific international conferences.Correspondence: E-mail: Tel: +355 692064040REFERENCESBorko, H. (2004). Professional development and teacher learning: Mapping the terrain.Educational Researcher 33(8) , 3–15.CESS, Centre for Economic and Social Studies. (2011). Mapping Roma Children in AlbaniaCochran-Smith, M., Feiman-Nemser, S., & McIntyre, S. (2008). Handbook of Research on TeacherEducation: Enduring Questions in Changing Contexts. New York, London: Routledge/Taylor &Francis Group.Epstein, A. (2007). The intentional teacher: choosing the best strategies for young children’s learning.Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.Albanian Journal of Educational Studies 68