As I reflect back on the last eight (seven as I write this) weeks of this course, I first want to say to all of my colleagues in this course Thank you. Thank you for responding and sharing with me both in blogging and in discussions. I hope that each of you has learned something from me as I have taken away something from each of you. As we each continue on our individual journeys in case we don't meet again in another course, I hope that we all reach our goals and achieve our dreams making a difference in the lives of the children we meet along the way.
The first thing that was really enlightening for me in this course was how some countries that I previously had thought (for example, China) were very well educated, have their struggles just as we do here in America. Quality programs are a big deal both here in America and abroad as the strive to find and keep well educated, well prepared staff is different based on location of job. If a certified teacher can become employed in a school district for a salaried position, that same certified teacher is going to be less likely to take an hourly position at a private preschool.
In addition to quality, I also reflected as I explored the various websites, on how access to early childhood education in some of the underdeveloped countries may not be as frequent as in better developed countries due to cost or barriers in the understanding of the importance of early childhood. I cannot imagine, because I have not lived it, how difficult it is in another country to educate children, even when the desire is in place. This is an even more revealing revelation for me in how fortunate we have it here in America. Yes, we have our own issues to face in early childhood but we do have programs in place and are striving to improve upon them.
Along with the quality of programs, I was also pleased through the websites to learn that with the gain in awareness for early childhood that the United States is working with other countries to develop, implement, and improve the education for early childhood. I know from the news that on a political standpoint we have such things as the United Nations where we work together, but to know that our collaborative efforts extend into the education of the children is fantastic.
What I learned about myself is that the different nationalities moving into this country are requiring a little more from the educators. I need to most definitely pursue the learning of Spanish for the area in which I live and in doing so I hope to learn more to make all children of all nationalities that I may encounter or that may enter my classroom comfortable enough, even if there is a language barrier, to learn successfully.
Congratulations because you have not only understood the ongoing changing demographics, but will surpass a language barrier by learning Spanish. As we all know, the Hispanic community is a minority that is tremendously growing in this country.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I can agree with you that I haven't lived it either, but I also think it is saddening that we can be highly educated and trained, but face different paychecks due to different funding in different areas. However, the passion does exist all around the world, but the means are not all the same due to funding. I wish we could fix everything. Thanks for your information and good luck with your future.
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