Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

            I asked Elisabeth if there are any new issues are concerns that are occurring in the news dealing with child care.  She said that the major issues in Belgium currently deals with the mistreatment of children in poverty areas.  Unfortunately, there are more children that are mistreated who live in poverty than any other area.  The reason is normally because the parents is stressed with issues of life.  For example, the parents can't figure out how the bills are going to be paid, has death in the family, an older sibling is pregnant at teenage years or so many other issues.  When there are other factors involved it is hard to focus on being nice and loving to your child.  The other issue that she mentioned is that there are so many children that do not report to school on a daily basis.  In Belgium, there is not a mandatory rule that says that children have to go to school.  Therefore, if no one is pushing you in the right direction to obtain an education, then there is no reason to get one.  

            Next, I asked her about the opportunities that exist for children in her area.  She said that her children were involved in sports, music and cooking.  All three of these aspects will allow the children to benefit from learning later on in life.  She also mentioned that most of the parents are able to work jobs late hours because there is entertainment offered at the school for them to participate in.  This is good because it provides the children extra curricula activity while the parents in working more hours to better finance their families.

            I asked what are the requirements for a good teacher in Belgium?    Teachers, in Belgium, should have good teaching skills, be comprehensive, be motivated, open minded, not elitists and someone who gives everyone a chance.  The way she explained everyone being given a chance is equivalent to what he call individualities at Head Start.  She feels like children should be able to appreciate learning through be curios and discovering new things.

            Finally, the last thing that I inquired was the goals that she has for her children.  She wants her children to be happy and always responsible.  They should respect others.  Every time they start never stop until the job is completed.  The last thing that she said, and I agree with, put every effort into what you are doing and where you want to go.  In order to get something new, you must first do something new. 

Sharing Web Resources

            The website that I used is EECERA2014.org.  This time I logged in I visited an outside link that lead me to KICCE (Korea Institute of child care and education .  On this website it says that its mission is to strive for enhancement of high quality education for young children, parents and the community.  Under the policies link there were some very controversial topics: gender sensitive, women's rights, migrant women, government cooperation and family policy.  All of these topics are very good conversation starters.

            The most current issue was an article titled, "South Korea shuns mom at peril as workforce shrinks."  As I begin to read the article, my hurt melted.  Two women were crying because they were finally able to find a job.  In Korea, it is unlikely for a woman to work after getting married.  Upon getting married, most women who have jobs decide to quit to stay at home, take care of the house and raise the children.  At Starbucks the mom were able to obtain a job through the back to work for moms program.  President Park Geun Hye, the nation's first female leader has pledged to create 1.65 million jobs for women to help lift the female employment options.  The rate to 61.9%  to 53.5%   before her term ends in February 2018 is her goal.  Making sure that women are happy and able to balance their family and career is the extended goal for the president.  She plans to spend 68% of the funds towards opening up new child development centers.  This will promote educational facilities for children and new employment opportunities for teachers.  In Korea, if there is a company with either 500 people or 300 women, it is procedure for the company to have a child development center nearby.  Forty percent of most organizations have already complied with this goal.  The president sees it as a personal challenge to try to get the percentage from forty to seventy percent within the length of her term.  This is an achievable goal and will be done with motivation from the community. The president talks about her own experience of having to switch from seven different nannies within one month's timeframe.  Every time your child has to change childcare providers there is a new attachment that has to be formed.  This is a hard process for a parents as well as a child.  This article really allowed me a chance to ponder on some things but I am glad that our nation is changing.  Women no longer have to stay at home and become house wives.  They now have the ability to work outside the home and have a peace of mind knowing that there children will be well taken care of in school.    

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

            This week we are reviewing the topics of excellency and equity.  The questions that I asked my person this week were very basic and to the point.  I started off by asking how are the children prepared for excellency within the school system in their country.  The response I got was that children learn how to live together through respecting, sharing and believing in one another.  As well they tend to take plenty of pictures because it is later shared with the next generation and placed on display.  They pass down the family traditions as it is important for the upcoming generations to follow.  Next, I asked what were three things that are valued by the parent to ensure that the child is successful in school.  She answered respect, learning and discipline.  The three factors that she listed are also factors that were important within my household as a child as well.  I was told by my grandmother for many years that respect will take you places that nothing else will.  Respect is not always earned but passed out freely.  Learning is required not praised.  Letter grades below a "B" were never accepted.  Discipline was always reinforced.  You were expected to know how to behave within the public arena without embarrassing the family name.  I asked about the challenges that were faced by her children in school but there apparently was none.  She just repeatedly told me that she wanted her children to be respectful even when they felt like injustice was been done.  She taught her children to accept and understand differences in regards to education, society and family environment.  Always perform the tasks that are expected by the teacher.  I followed up by asking her how did she feel the school did with supporting the needs of the children and she told me that they did  not support her family at all, but she did not need them either.  Finally, the last thing I asked was for her to tell me about a happy event that she remembers from her child's childhood.  She mentioned the school fair.  She discussed that this was an event where the child was allowed to dance or display a talent for the audience and she remembers being a proud parent.  Every conversation that I have with her is always warm and allows me to see exactly how much she cares about her children.  It is nice to be able to see how people provide  are in different places of the world and compare and contrast upon it. 

Sharing Web Resources

            EECERA (European Early Childhood Education Research Association) is the name of the website that I subscribed to.  The purpose of EECERA is to increase the development of theoretical foundation of the theme and related topics, the development of new research methodology, an up to date overview of current knowledge and developments in the field (EECERA.org).   I am most interested in the theme and related topics because it keeps me up to date on the latest trends and issues.  I am always concerned on what's new around, as well I should be.  As an educator, I plan to teach my students according to the latest theme and related topics.

            Throughout the article there were three controversial questions that stuck out to me.  The questions are as follows: 1.)  Should early childhood education programmers be universally accessible and affordable to all?  2.)  Should resource programmers be targeted only at supporting those who are in the greatest need?  3.)  Is the quality factor in early childhood education a universal concept or should it be individualized to context, and adapted to accommodate different social and cultural constructs of childhood.    All three of these questions are very controversial because no matter who you ask the question to, you are guaranteed to get a different answer from.

            If you ask a politician questions such as, should all programs be affordable and should resources only be provided to those in need, the answer is going to be the obvious.  A politician is usually running for some sort of office and the need people to vote.  Therefore, a good politician needs to seem concerned.  The answers would be very similar to the following:  every child deserves a quality education and the resources should definitely be affordable to them.  Although this statement sounds good coming from them, it is not always the case when they make it into the office.  Asking a neuroscientist who needs resources to obtain a higher knowledge should be answered in one way.  But, unfortunately this can arise new thoughts within certain people.  Some people feel like why should resources be provided to schools who already have sufficient resources?  Why not provide low income schools with more resources?  Personally, I feel like what can be recycled should be.  But, every school deserves new materials every school year.  Furthermore, economists perceive some things to be universally accessible.  I agree some things can be considered universal, but several things are not considered universal.  The most important aspect to remember  is that are children are not universal, and never will be.  This is why the phrase, "no child left behind" comes into effect.  Because the system does not want any child to fall through the cracks, the policy council and other educational administration perform all tasks to ensure that all children can learn.  Every child is important. 

            From this website, I have learned to be more open minded.  There are some issues and trends that are going to be controversial, however educators always consider what is in the best interest of the child.  Every educator, no matter where they work, is an advocate or a voice for the children.  Advocates can be politicians, neuroscientists or economists.  The qualifications of an advocate is simply to want what's best for the child.  I have learned this week to consider all options and make them available resources when possible.

Reference

EECERA.org

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

            The person that I have chosen for this assignment is Emmanuèle.  I have known this woman for over seventeen years.  She used to tutor me in French as a young child.  I learned to respect and appreciate the French Culture through her.  Although, she is from France, she has lived in the USA for the last thirty years.  Currently, she still has family that are still residing outside the USA. 

            Recently, I met her sister, Elisabeth.  Elisabeth is an educator in Belgium near Brussels (25 Km).  She has three children.  They attended primary school in Baulers (700 m from home).  Although, this is not the same school that she attended as a child, she likes the school for many reasons.  The communication from social class is good, there are several activities that visitors can participate in. However, the thing that she did not like is the fact that several of the teachers did not take into account that it takes some students longer than others to become well adjusted.   She said that her children were punished when they cried and were sent to a corner to think.  She did not like the fact that the teacher made her feel guilty on days when she had to pick her children up early or if they had to miss any days.  There were some days where she just wanted to have lunch with her children, and the principal made her feel as though she could not.  I asked her if she felt like the school had sufficient supplies to support the educational needs of the children.  She answered yes for her children, but no for  the children with special needs.  Her words were, "I feel like they are left away."  Finally, when I asked the few questions about poverty, she did not answer them because she had nothing to compare it to.    I am excitedly looking forward to getting to know Elisabeth better throughout this semester.

            Through getting to know her I discovered that most, if not all, of the schools in the area are state funded.  There are really no low income schools around.  The education system seems to be well grounded and the children are learning.

Sharing web resources...

            I subscribed to http://www.eecera.org.  This website captured my attention through it being from Europe. EECERA (European Early Childhood Education Research Association) is an independent, self-governing, international association which promotes and disseminates multi-disciplinary research on early childhood and its applications to policy and practice. EECERA is a non-profit organization, wholly-owned and subscribed to by its substantial and influential world-wide membership. It generates its own revenue, receives no external funding and thus ensures its independence, radical attitude and innovative openness (http://www.eecera.org).

            EECERA's objective is to promote and carry out public benefit and research issues relevant to early childhood provision.  By taking these steps it encourages a clearer articulation, raises visibility and status, explores topical new mythologies, facilitate collaboration and cooperation, raises the level of critical thinking and develop setting improvement and quality insurance.  To assist with the focus there are training classes, research opportunities and conferences held (http.//www.crec.co.uk). 

            Under current issues, there was a letter that recently went out to inform educators how to report on effectiveness of teaching and assessment within the early years (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk).  According to Sir Michael Wilshaw, there are no preferred teaching styles, as long as the children are prepared for public school upon entry is the main focus.  Research has proven the first five years of life to be the timeframe where the child tends to obtain the most knowledge at the quickest pace.  During the early years so much information can be obtained through simple lesson planning.  For example, children can learn to recognize nursery rhymes, learn new vocabulary, enjoy picture books, build towers while counting, make shapes through clay, mark on paper, climb stairs, play ball, get dressed and undressed and several other things.

            When an inspector enters the room there are several things that they are observing for.  Here are just a few: the staff is helping the children, teaching the children to listen, encouraging the children to socialize, motivating independency, managing personal needs, challenging critical thinking, testing ideas through trial and error, providing good models of language, expressing ideas and using imagination, extending vocabulary and learning the early stages of math and reading.  However, to assist with the staff performing these tasks there are some things that the management needs to ensure is being performed.  The classrooms should be staffed appropriately, staff should speak clearly and appropriately, time management should be considered, children's skills should be monitored and the staff should be able to obtain the expertise needed to perform the everyday functions of the job. 

            While working on this assignment, it made me realize that in order to have an effective and quality school, there has to be other things to fall into place first.  It all starts from the top.  The management should be organized and prepared for the staff as well as the children.  The building should be clean and DSS ready at all times.  They should be knowledge and aware of their surroundings.  The staff should be educated and passionate about their duties.  The staff should be communicable and approachable.  The children should be loved and cherished. They should feel as if they are at home with the same amount of love that is provided by their parents.  When all of these factors fall into place the school can set the standard of being a quality and effective program.

References

http.//www.crec.co.uk. 

http://www.eecera.org. 

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I tried very hard to locate or contact two professionals.  I used the Global Alliance of Naeyc to contact five different places: Philippines, Germany, Canada, Cuba and Hatai.  Also, I used the UNICEF website, but I did not find it as useful as the other one.  Finally, I did contact the Head Start center in Mexico, but that did not go far because the lady said she did not speak English and there was no translator.  Before I try the part 1 alternative, I have a friend that is from outside the US and works with children.  After I have made contact with them, I might try the option two.  But, I have a good feeling about these two ladies.

Furthermore, I saw several websites that look interesting.  Here are a few: Zero to three, The Naeyc, National Head Start Organization, and Association of Early Childhood Teachers.  However, I did subscribe to European Early Childhood Education Research Association.  But, I think I will continue to subscribe to more.