Research That Benefits

Wow. When I saw the topic for this week, I could not help but think how wonderful the research created in option two could achieve so much and help so many.

If I could research any topic it would be researching equitable access for all children to attend preschool programs. With this research I could find the issues affecting parents lack of ability or knowledge to send their children to preschool programs through various means. The following ideas would apply to private preschool programs or those children unable to attend public preschool programs due to small class sizes. Either coordinating pick up for children either through a transportation service or car pool or on the other hand I could create a program where children receive attention from a preschool teacher in the home setting where they are the most comfortable. This could happen one on one or with a few children from the local area in the neighborhood. This way both children of parents who wished for them to attend preschool and those who would prefer their children stay home and 'be little' for as long as possible could receive preschool learning services and thus equalize the readiness of students for Kindergarten.

 If there was money allocated and available to pay enough preschool teachers so that all preschool aged children could attend the public school, that would serve one purpose of preschool learning and the other purpose of better preparing students for Kindergarten. However, with budgets and space available within a public school, having all children attend preschool in a public setting or having the finances to pay teachers may not be feasible.

I would love to see the day where regardless of outside factors all children receive a preschool education and start their educational careers 'ahead' instead of behind for lack of preschool attendance.

Personal Research Journey

As I thought about a topic for this research simulation, I reflected back on EDUC 6162. The topic in that course that struck me the most was equity in early childhood. How can children not attend a preschool program based on where they live or the socioeconomic status of the family? How can a teacher with the same qualifications teaching in a private setting not make the same as a teacher in a public school setting? What are the differences and why do the differences cause such inequalities?

This topic is important to me because it could affect the profession from an educators’ standpoint and how prepared a child is for Kindergarten can affect the rest of a child’s education. As I research the topic, I find that there are more articles about studies outside of the US than within the US. Additionally, there is very little I have found on the issue in relation to the teachers, so as my desire was to research the equity issue for teacher salary I may simply have to just focus on the children.

 Whichever becomes my final result, I hope that through this research simulation I can find more information to use in an effort to eliminate the inequities found.