Erissa
- What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?
The issues that are being discussed are:
1. Ratios: We are discussing having a lower child/teacher ratio so we can provide the quality care that each child needs.
2. Material: We don't have a lot of material for the children so we often use the same things over and over. We need more books and developmental material and toys that the children can use.
3. Teacher qualifications. They want teachers to have completed their teacher practice before being employed.
Erissa
- What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?
Conferences and trainings are offered monthly through outside organization and my place of employment also has monthly trainings on different topics.
- What are some of your professional goals?
I would like to continue my education and eventually open up my own center.
- What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?
I want to continue learning and working with young children and I hope that the early childhood field continues to get the recognition that it deserves so all children can one day have access to high-quality care.
Marlene
Marlene
- What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?
1. The issues that are being discussed are the lack of programs accessible and available.
2. The need for children to be cared for in a safe and nurturing environment (many are being cared by older siblings or family members).
3. Teacher education and requirements. Many teachers only have the minimum requirements.
4. Lack of early childhood educators ( the pay and benefits do not match the work that we do).
- What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?
There are not that many opportunities available for professional development and the few that are offered by some schools, are being offered during work hours and many of us cannot go, especially me that I run my own home child care.
- What are some of your professional goals?
My professional goals are to continue learning about child development and to continue providing the care that the children deserve.
- What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?
My hopes and dreams are to see all the children that I serve grow up happy and healthy and for me to live a long life so I can continue doing what I love to do.
Reyna, thank you for sharing your responses from your international contacts. It is great that Erissa has access to trainings on a monthly basis. As it relates to Marlene, I wonder if there is a requirement for a certain number of professional developments hours yearly since she states they are not easily accessible for her due to when they are being offered.
ReplyDeleteBeing in contact with international professionals has certainly opened my eyes to a number of issues and concerns.
Priscilla
Hi Priscilla,
ReplyDeleteIn Marlene's case, she runs a child care in her home and there is no requirement for her to have professional development hours. She said that she has her certificate in child development and that's all she needs. She would like to continue to attend trainings and conferences for her own professional development, but feels challenged because of the time restraint that she experiences since she is the main caregiver of the children in her care and the families rely on her to be able to care for theit children so they can go to work.
Reyna
Thanks for sharing Reyna,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that many of the concerns of your contacts are concerns here in the U.S. too. I had a discussion just last week among educators that were frustrated that our county is offering a free training about advocacy, however, it is going to be held during business hours. The teachers are the ones that need this info! It is great to hear that each teacher wants the best for the children that they serve.
Hi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteYes alot of the trainings are being offered during working hours and it's nice if your agency can have someone sub for you, but many do not have the funds. I get emails from different organizations inviting me to attend their conferences, workshops, and trainings, but they are being offered in the mornings and some are very pricy. I also think about having to leave my children all day on a Saturday when I'm already away Monday through Friday and am busy all night with school work and taking care of them and the house responsibilities. It's tough to balance everything sometimes.
Reyna
Hi Reyna,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post, I love the issues you talk about Education is a treasure that can never be taken away, the proverb goes, and we are certain that’s true. It’s one of the soundest predictors of well-being and economic stability there is. Communities can flourish when families have access to quality early childhood education, high-performing schools and enrichment activities for their children, and when adults can get the skills training and continuing education they need to land and advance in living wage jobs. That’s why promoting educational opportunity is at the foundation of the work we do in neighborhoods across the country. To increase educational choice and access to good schools, Charter School Financing at LISC supports public charter schools that put their all into preparing students for college, career and life. Since 1997, we have provided more than $278 million in financing for charter facilities in low-income neighborhoods. And because early childhood education is well-documented as the single most effective means for closing the achievement gap, our Early Childhood Facilities program (also known as the Community Investment Collaborative for Kids or CICK) has invested $56.5 million to help plan, build or refurbish nearly 202 early childhood facilities in under-served places.
http://www.lisc.org/our-initiatives/education/?gclid=CLX_hq6IqtICFdi1wAodX1QKrQ
Reyna, This was a great post. It is interesting to see how they are both focused on different areas in their programs, but they are similar to what we talk about in the U.S. Depending on where your program is based depends on your access to materials and toys for children like Erissa's issue, and many programs I have been around only have teachers with minimum education like Marlene's issue. In my program and many programs in my community the workers only have the minimum requirements to work in a child care center. There are a few I work with myself included that are enrolled in programs to gain higher requirements. It puts into perspective that we aren't any better or less than other countries, and we shouldn't compare our education systems to others because we all need improvements. Plus a child's education isn't a competition like we can make it in America.
ReplyDeleteReyna, I wish there is something more that can be done for these teachers who show a passion for education. Erissa and Marlene will one day be rewarded by the encouragement, support and their interest in the lives of these children. It's not easy to find these dedicated people who have a heart for teaching...The issues they face are the same nationwide.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post!
Bea