My conversation partners are colleagues of mine in the
military community. I have not personally met either yet we have corresponded through
training as well as email to uphold our mission at our respected bases we are
currently residing at.
Sara, currently residing in England, is a trainer who works
in the military child development centers as well as volunteers in the
community to learn about the nursery schools in the community. Sara has been
involved in Early Childhood Education with the military for the past two years,
however has worked in the nursery schools in England for almost ten.
Sayako, currently living in Italy, is a child development
director, and has been a part of the early education world for almost twelve
years. In her time being an early educator she has worked in Japan and her home
South Korea. Sayako enjoys watching children grow and learn through play.
From these professionals thus far I have noticed the major differences
have been the financial resources for their schools. Another being the ability
to have highly trained staff who are also well educated and compensate for
their education. Much of the funding in these other countries come from the
government taking the pressure off of the parents to provide finances for care.
Sara mentioned in England the nursery age children are given free hours to
attend nursery school with a curriculum similar to what is offered in preschool
programs in the United States.
Sayako is funded through the Department of Defense (DOD) she
has stated they have ample funding the materials are at times difficult to
purchase due to the shipping and handling issues to her area, however when she
can buy locally for materials the rate of exchange is pretty good. Within her program
her staff is able to receive their CDAs or other early learning certificates
through scholarships and funding for them being overseas through the DOD.
Sara is mainly funded through the government in England. She
shared that the focus in England is on advancement of early learners to be
ready for their primary education. The focus on educators throughout England as
well as the government is to ensure all children are in educational nursery
schools from the start and build forward to ready them.
Hi Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteCost seems to be the major issue with many countries as it comes to education. It saddens me that we have access to so many programs to help us here but they are often limited or don't exist in other countries. Its great the two educators your in contact with have programs in place for early childhood early learners.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you've made contact with professionals overseas working in this field. It is always interesting to find out other resources. You mentioned that these establishments lack funding. Well compensate teachers provides quality care to students.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed getting to know your contacts. It was interesting to know that the curriculum used in England is similar to that of some of the preschool programs here in the United States. I see that one thing is about the same as in the United States, the lack of funding or resources for programs or school settings. Great information!
Funding is always a bonus in helping to eliminate challenges yet it should not be a sole factor with such topics as poverty. Children should not be penalized because districts do not have the financial means to improve their situations. School districts have to do more. Children deserve it, therefore poverty should not be only a district problem but one that the government works diligently in every area to permanently abolish.
ReplyDeletestephanie,
ReplyDeleteThis is great information that you gained from your contacts. The shortage of resources is always a problem in the early education field. Children need so much and its hard to educate them if we do not have everything they need to do it.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you have 2 contacts when most of us can't get one. They sound pretty well off and was wondering what they say about poverty in their areas?
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteWhat great resources you have found in your military colleagues. Where funding sources comes from is truly the key to quality in ece. Hopefully we can get to a point in the US where folks don't look at subsidizing early care as charity, rather an investment in our families and communities much like k-12 is considered.
Interesting also that attaining resources can be a struggle in Italy. I would not have thought that.
thanks for sharing with us. ~karlene