EDUC6162 Week 8

Consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for my professional and personal development.

1. By learning more about the international early childhood field I will be better informed of global issues and trends that affect the field.  I can share this information with my colleagues and co-workers.
2. By communicating with others and learning more about international practices I will become more culturally competent.  I believe early childhood professionals should continually work on being culturally competent so that they can provide higher quality services to the families they serve.
3. I have also learned that we all, nationally and internationally, are fighting many of the same issues in the early childhood field.  We all struggle with access, availability, and providing quality programs. 

One goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations.

My goal for the field is that all professionals will work together, learn from one another, share what they have learned and bring more awareness to communities, political leaders, and society in general on the importance of high-quality early childhood care and education. 

Getting To Know Your International Contacts - Part 3

Korea

This week in my correspondence with Jo Theis, my international contact from Korea, she told me that her professional goals are to continue doing what she loves, working with children.  She enjoys working with children who have challenging behaviors, who can't sit still, and who think outside of the box.   She uses Art as her "vehicle" for doing this.  Ms. Theis holds four Teaching Licenses and always feels like she can continue to learn more, to her it is not about a "title" but rather about enjoying what she does. 

The school that Ms. Theis works at provides each staff member with $1200 a year for professional development which they can use as they choose.  This is how she was able to attend the conference in Malaysia, she is able to choose her own professional development.  She also attends any required or requested conferences, workshops, and/or seminars requested by the school.  These requested conferences, workshops, and/or seminars do not come out of her $1200.00 yearly budget. 

She believes that the International schools maintain a high level of professional development in order to keep their clientele.  Families pay a lot of money to attend these schools and expect staff to be knowledgeable, competent, and the best in their field. 

Ms. Theis hopes that one day the schools in the United States will also take professional development of staff as a priority and that we are able to find the funding to make our schools comparable to those around the world.


Costa Rica

My correspondence with  my other contact, Mrs. Tapiaaguilar, from Costa Rica stated that her professional goals were always to provide the best services to her families and the children that she worked with.  She still continues to stay current on issues and trends in the education system in Costa Rica and Mentors new teachers when needed. 

During the time that Mrs. Tapiaaguilar taught she stated that Professional Development was done at the Teacher's expense.  This shows how committed teachers truly had to be within the profession.  Now that Costa Rica has improved so much on their education system Professional Development is on going once you become a teacher.  You have yearly trainings, workshops, and conferences that you are required to attend.  These are paid for by the government.

Mrs. Tapiaaguilar stated that her professional hopes and dreams include seeing all children throughout the world receiving high-quality education services.  She believes every country has their own challenges to work through but that with commitment of professionals, parents, and governments these challenges can be overcome.

Sharing Web Resources - Week 6

The Global Fund For Children (GFC), www.globalfundforchildren.org, posted their Winter/Spring 2011 E-Newsletter.  In the Newsletter the new CEO, Kristin Lindsey introduces herself and two new board members.  She also summarized the mission of GFC for children globally by quoting her favorite Dr. Seuss book, Oh, The Places You Will Go.  From the book she quotes:

You have brains in your head
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.

The mission of GFC is to focus on children's safety, access to education, health, and their ability to thrive.  With these needs attended children can go anywhere and achieve anything.

The newsletter also provided an outside link to the conference the founder, Maya Ajmera attended at Duke University's National Conference on Social Entrepreneurship Education.  The conference focused on social problems facing children today and their solutions.

On the outside link at Duke University the article on the conference referenced what was discussed at the conference.  Issues such as health disparities, quality education, and the importance of grass roots organizations.  Michael Merson stated that the health disparities are a result of chronic disease, climate change, and inadequate health systems.  He also referenced the importance of health and its relation to development.

Leela Prasad discussed the quality of education and how it continues to be a global problem in both rural and urban areas.  She stated that their research shows dramatic changes in the quality of education can be seen when governments invest in schools, when this investment is reduced or taken away education quality declines.  This demonstrates the importance of government funding and investment into education.

The area of the website that I researched further was the Our Work section.  This section focuses on the news in Children's Issues.  There is an article on former child soldiers who even after a demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration process remain living in poverty.  Another article discusses the Democratic Republic of Congo stepping up its immunizations for pneumonia which is its leading cause of death in children under five.  The last article discussed how child advocates continue to fight in the Philippines for justice for young children who are targeted by the militia. 

One important insight I have gained from this website is the importance of grass root organizations.  These entrepreneurs who start up organizations and programs in their communities provide services for health, safety, and education for children who are often sometimes invisible, lost, or forgotten. 

Getting To Know International Contacts - Part 2 Equity and Excellence

Unfortunately this week I have not been able to correspond with my first International contact, Jo Theis.  I believe she is still in Malaysia attending a Conference.  However, I reviewed her previous correspondence and found several references to the excellence in her experience in Korea.  The school Ms. Theis works for costs $25,000 a year to attend and none of the students are attending on a scholarship.  She told me that education and children, rich or poor, are a priority in Korea.  Families will make great sacrifices for their children's education.  She also talked about how the children push themselves and strive for excellence.  Because the students work so hard it pushes the teachers and raises the bar for them to challenge the students.  Many students will attend after school what is known as Hogwon, which is not tutoring or assistance with homework but rather it is more school.  Compared to her experience in Minneapolis it is drastically different.   Excellence in education is expected in Korea.

From my contact in Costa Rica, Jeanette Tapiaaguilar, she told me the history of education in Costa Rica and how they are the most literate country in Central America.  She proudly told me that the country is proud of their 93% literacy in the population over the age of 10.  Teachers are highly respected in her country and out number policemen she jokingly told me.  Even very rural communities have a elementary and high school.  Education is state-funded in Costa Rica with even their Universities being state-funded.  There are also private elementary, high schools, and universities but they also do not cost very much to attend and are regulated by the State Ministry.  Libraries in rural areas also assist with educating older adults if they need improvement on their literacy skills or just want to learn more.  Education is available for everyone, rich or poor, and she was very proud that even children from poor families have the opportunity to obtain a higher education.

From both of my contacts it is evident that both countries make education and children a priority.  This seems to be something that here in America we lack.  While education and children are important in our country I don't feel that we make them a top priority.  The tide seems to be changing in America, however we still struggle for funding, accountability, achievement gaps, and meeting standards.