Web Resources, Part 2

Web Resources. Part 2

               In looking at the Pre-k Now website, I looked for more articles/projects related to young children.  They have a home visiting project for prenatal moms through age three.  This is one of the hot topics right now in education.  Many grants are available on this topic.  The importance of this issue is that the earlier there is intervention in key areas, the more productive children and their families will be.  Issues such as “unemployment, crime, child abuse and neglect, school failure, and poverty can be improved through home visiting” (http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=31672).

There is also a Child Abuse Prevention Infographic.  Check it out at http://www.pewstates.org/research/data-visualizations/child-abuse-prevention-month-infographic-85899376583.  The home visiting project helps businesses because if citizens are healthy and have healthy families, they are productive workers in the workforce.

            There is also a Children’s Dental Care Project.  Goals of this project include getting more dentists with work with low-income families, improving the dental piece of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)., increasing the number of homes with fluoridated water, and putting sealants even on baby teeth to improve the health of young children. This also will improve productivity of the workforce.

            When visiting The Association for Childhood Education International this week, I discovered several publications that they produce.  The one that most interested me is titled Childhood Education.  In the bimonthly publication issues regarding reading books, mathematics assessment for pre-k, and partnering with Latino families during kindergarten transition seemed as though they would provide insight to early childhood educators.  There is also a Global News Archive which includes several recently written articles.  I also discovered that The World Bank is associated with this organization.  They have included as their goal an Education Strategy whose motto is “Invest early, Invest smartly, Invest for all” (http://acei.org/).  They have already made huge strides in some third world countries in their effort to Invest for all.  In opening several articles which are summarized very concisely, the overall theme seems to be that education is the key to breaking down barriers for all people.

Education and Poverty in Poland

Education and Poverty in Poland

I had success speaking with a parent in our Head Start Program.  Her name is Monika Kulwikowski.  She is a child care provider for children zero to three with a partnering agency.  Her mother-in-law is a director of a kindergarten in Poland.  I really enjoyed speaking with her.  She has been very open about life in Poland. 

Poland has a social system.  Mothers generally stay at home until the children are at least six months old.  If they are fortunate enough to have a job, they go to work for 18 hours a day.  The grandparents are responsible for raising the child until it is time to go to school.  If they do not have family living near them, parents can send their children to “kindergarten” at age 2 or 3 if they have the income to do so.  The care in these centers is not like it is in America.  “There is one teacher and 20 children.  If the children cry, the workers do not try to work with the child.  They just ignore them.  There is no respect for the child and their feelings” (Monika Kulwikowski, personal communication, May 16, 2012).  Monika’s mother-in-law is the director of a “kindergarten”.  Because her center is well-run, the student teacher ratio is 15 to one.  Most child care providers in Poland are more like drill sergeants shouting out directions.

The job market is very competitive to people try to get as much education as they can in order to compete.

There are fewer children now in Poland than there used to be.  Adults cannot afford to have the children.  If families need help, they must rely on the good will of people they meet or go to the Catholic Church to get help.  If you don’t have a husband or family around, you will most certainly live in poverty.  Many times families have to live together just to make ends meet.  Because the Catholic faith is such an integral part of society in general, if you are a woman, you are expected to have a husband.  “If you do not have a husband, it is as though you do not exist at all.  If you try to leave your husband, the government will take your child from you.  You should not have a child if you cannot keep your husband (Monika Kulwikowski, personal communication, May 16, 2012).

Poverty is different in different parts of the world.  The basic issues of poverty in the United States are also found in Williamsburg, Virginia.  In the United States there are pockets of extreme poverty.  In other areas of the world, extreme poverty can represent the majority of the population.  Regardless of where we live and/or work, poverty is something we should work together to eradicate.  There are agencies worldwide that work to that end.  It will take those with more to help those with less.  We can all do something.  Our church has two Stop Hunger Now campaigns each year.  The United Methodist Church has gleaning events around the country throughout the year.  Of course, there are Food Banks in most, if not all, major cities.  Meals on Wheels and transportation services in cities help the elderly.  In the United States the top one percent of the wealthy have seen a growth of 256% while the middle class has only seen a growth of 21% and the poor 11% (Cauthen & Fass, 2009).  Something needs to change.  In my mind, we need to empower the families so that they have the resources to help themselves.  Each of us needs to do our part to advocate for the children and their families.

References

Cauthen N. K., & Fass, S. (2009). 10 important questions about child poverty and family

            economic hardship. Retrieved from National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)

            website:http://www.nccp.org/pages/pdf/page_131.pdf

Web Resources

Website Resources for Study

One website resource that I chose to study is the following:

Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=31672
(Newsletter: http://www.preknow.org/signupform.cfm )

I chose this resource because I had heard many colleagues talk about PEW research and information they had gathered for grants and presentations from them.  Their mission is to “develop policy solutions that make government more effective and deliver results for states and public good.”  They inform the public of issues and solutions on a variety of topics.  This week my particular interest was a report on the findings of a ten year campaign to “advance high quality, voluntary pre-k for 3-4 year olds.”  As a result of this study, they are encouraging policy makers to move to a model of Pre-k to grade 12 public education.

One interesting piece of this report is an infographic containing the work that has been done by each individual state regarding pre-k advancements.  I certainly thought that Virginia was doing a good job until I viewed this graphic.  Check out your own state by going to this website  www.pewstates.org/research/data-visualizations/proof-into-policy-pre-k-milestones-infographic

Other topics I want to learn more about include home visiting, the Children’s Dental Campaign and Family and Health issues.  I have signed up for a newsletter, but have not received one either electronically or through the mail.

Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/
(Review also these online resources at: http://acei.org/knowledge/ )

I am also following this international site.  Their mission is to “promote and support optimal education and development of children worldwide and to influence professional development of educators and other interested parties in the needs of children” (Association for Childhood Education International, 2012).  I like how this website is set up.  It is very user friendly.  Global news allows you to read about education in countries around the world and issues that are important to them.  They are also affiliated with the United Nations.

They recently held a Summit in Washington, D.C. to discuss issues relevant to all countries around the world.  During that Summit, they discussed ideas related to their emphasis for the next ten years The Decade for Childhood.  During that time they hope to examine the following questions and more:

·       What is our view of the human being and how does that affect our view of childhood?

·       Have changes in child-rearing practices and societal expectations of children served children well or contributed to a decline in their overall well-being?

·       What supports children—and ultimately all of us—in creating strong relationships, a healthy environment, and opportunities for lifelong growth and learning; and how do we make these a normal part of every child's life? (Association for Childhood Education International, 2012)

There are several other campaigns that they are involved in promoting.  I will be exploring them more in the future.

References

Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/

Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=31672

Establishing Personal Global Contacts and Expanding Resources - Wk 1

This has been an interesting week in trying to establish personal global contacts and expanding resources.  I have spoken to several volunteers and parents from other countries.  It has been interesting to hear their stories of early childhood education in their countries.  In Russia, for example, children begin "kindergarten" at age 2.  They are in school all day because their parents are working.  The first couple of years are like our daycare system in the United States.  At ages 4-5 they begin to study in preparation for school.  At one time it was free.  Now it is very expensive and there is competition to try and get your child into the program.  



Early Childhood Education


I am also talking to one of our parents from Poland.  Her mother-in-law is the director of a kindergarten there.  I look forward to hearing what she has to say as well.


As I expected, early childhood education is nonexistent in Rwanda because of the civil war going on.  Survival is the education of the families there now.

Children of all nations deserve the right to learn

I have also contacted via email several of the resources listed in our resource section.  To date I have not gotten any response from individuals or organizations that were suggested to us.  I cannot wait to read other blogs and hear about how you are able to contact people from other countries.


I have been reading articles from Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States.  I have been a part of the improvement system in Virginia for early childhood education.  In many ways we are in the infant stage of developing quality child care birth to five.  There is still a great deal to be completed.  As I expected, California, Texas, Florida and New Jersey are leaders in this field.  I know that North Carolina is developing a great program as well.  It has several great articles about early childhood education.  The Pew Center is a research, evidence based program that helps states look at their policies and procedures.

We can all learn together!

I am also beginning to study the Association for Childhood Education International.  There are several links within the site to countries' programs, policies, and procedures.   "Our mission is to promote and support the optimal education and development of children worldwide, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society. We have consultative status with the United Nations." (ACEI)  Each month there is a focus on a particular country and the issues that they working on.

References

Association for Childhood Education International

http://acei.org/

The Global Alliance of NAEYChttp://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

International Society of Early Intervention ( http://depts.washington.edu/isei/ )

Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States

http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=31672(Newsletter: http://www.preknow.org/signupform.cfm )