Which issues related to excellence and equity are at the forefront of professional discussions in your country? Why do you think those issues are at the forefront of discussion at this time. How are you addressing one or two of those issues?
In my opinion both topics have been at the forefront in the US for a long time. They are the issues that we must always be interested in for all the children in the world deserve excellence and access to education and the realization of their potentials. In my work the Innovative Teacher Project (ITP ) is more of a local project even though it is recognized nationally and several places have replicated the project in their own context. This project is focused on quality and excellence in Early Childhood Education in all the schools in the network as well as including public schools that usually have more of a struggle for quality due to many requirement from the state licensing in California that have a low image of the child and their main concern is safety. Also ITP is a project of professional development for teachers that is not always taken into consideration as a value and an essential in education. We are experiencing difficulties with our state budget that impacts the $$ available to teachers for their participation in furthering their professional development. Much of the existing professional development for teachers has been based in the image of teachers as empty vessels so we include alot of discussion time for teachers to dialogue and learn together... co-constructive approach this then hopefully translates to the children.
In my work I always see working with teachers, administration, as a local, national and international endeavor as creating opportunities and initiatives to focus on excellence and access. Here we have strong reference points both in the public and private sectors in preschools with multicultural families.
Am I to believe that the state of California is seeking to obtain more from the children than what is possible? Are standards being forced down to the early childhood institutions in an effort to fulfill the requirements from the various assessments at the elementary level? Why does the state possess a low image of the child?
Our state is becoming test driven so yes things are being pushed down and assessments for teachers and children are on a high priority. This is also driven by the state of California economy which is in bad shape. Another issue is the low pay for teachers at every level. Many are leaving the field because the salary is too low. For ECE this is a real issue the salary is the lowest. There is a new film that was shown at the International Film Festival called “American Teacher " by actor Matt Damon. The film is about this issue of low teacher pay in the US. The long researched view of children learning thru play especially 0-8 years old is still very controversial even all the brain research shows that children learn through play encounters with materials, objects etc and an interesting well thought out environment based on relationships.
The investment in the child is the most important investment we can make however when it is viewed thru a $ return this is where the words do not translate into action and the daily life of schools. In San Francisco many private schools have been created to create environments for children that the parents believe in.. parents also bow to the pressures of the image of the child as an empty vessel filling their lives with many appointments after school violin, dance...etc later having hours of homework. In my opinion our fast paced life is rushing the children into adulthood and this is where the image of the child is a lens that must be explored.
Describe the additional information obtained from your international sources
It is quite unfortunate, sad and demeaning when one considers how persons like Marian Wright Edelman advocated for the field of early childhood to gain recognition and today that struggle continues in order to ensure that excellence and equity exist. Many policy makers are paying little attention to what professionals in the field have been saying for years. They possess little value of the child at this stage; they expect the best returns none-the-less with little investment in the field. Greater focus must be given to our early childhood teachers – recognition, training and remuneration are only some of the areas which require immediate attention. Teachers need support; they cannot do it alone if they are to meaningfully impact on the lives of the children and the families which they serve.
Evlyn,
ReplyDeleteAll of us need to be held accountable for what Marian Wright advocated for. Wwe have to work to ensure that issues of equity are addressed within all early childhood systems development work. We need best practices and policies, state learning experiences, and key challenges and opportunities for the field in meeting the needs of all children in our multi-ethnic society.
Thanks for posting!
Evlyn,
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree that more attention needs to be paid to the field of early childhood, research shows and has for years the impact a high quality early childhood system or program has on children, but years later we are still fighting the same battle. I think we just need to keep doing our parts as educators and advocates and continue to share information with parents, community members, and policy makers, and hope that we will get through to them.
Thanks for sharing!
Evlyn,
ReplyDeleteLast school year I attended a ECE workshop and all the educators who participated called out these three: recognition, training and better pay as their wishes. It is the same situation for a long time but still educators are doing their best to make a better world.
"Image of the child" is not how look at the same situation. For me it is parents and children working togahter to make children's college applications an out standing ones:). I have heard it alot. Academics and great grades are not good enough any more. So they are trying harder.
I am glad you have countinuos contacts.
Hello Evlyn,
ReplyDeleteYou wrote another informative blog. In today's society, our children are living in a fast pace world and our children are forced to grow up early and learn at a much faster pace, too. Maybe it is the signs of the time, but parents and policy markers need to take a time out, and regroup and let children enjoy their childhood and learn at a slower pace.
Evlyn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing so much information about California, and your thoughts as well. You talked about the pressures and fast pace life for young children and it reminded me of children in Japan. Many of the Japanese children attend Cram schools which are kind of like a tutoring program that they attend after school and on the weekends to enhance their academic abilities. Many of them are in after-school activities as well, and I always wonder how much is too much for them.