Looking Back

As I look back the one thing that I have not done yet, but desire to do in order to stay more abreast of early childhood happenings is join at least one professional organization. I want to use my knowledge and what I have learned to impact the early childhood field.

Thinking about learning and sharing within a community of educators as we have done for the last eight weeks leaves me thinking about a lot. First, as we learn and grow together we become more aware that we are not alone and when we work together we can accomplish so much more. Secondly, working together enhances the number of voices heard in regards to an issue. While one voice and one person can make a difference, if there is a larger group effort to achieve the same, the voices combined together will get more attention. Finally, one a negative note working together can sometimes lead to different personalities and opinions clashing. When this happens all parties involved lose.

We need to work together as educators, on similar issues, to work better together to impact the early childhood field.

My Hypothetical Family situation

As a current teacher, English speaking, and married to a wonderful man, we have just found out that the child we will have is going to be born with Down Syndrome. For those who may not know, it is a condition where a child is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. While services are available, and treatment is available my child will be subject to other medical conditions a 'normal' child will not. Each child born with Down Syndrome exhibits different characteristics, both physically and cognitively. Thus from family members to community members to educators, all involved in my life will now need to be aware and understanding of the differences between them and my child. But don't count my child out on anything! As an educator, luckily my husband's job will allow for me to stay home and my child will be taken care of in our home by myself and whatever therapists he may need. My family and I, as well as my child, will need health services, support services, and early learning and development services to insure our child and family are receiving the best possible care. Without my income once our child is born, while we are currently able to afford for me to stay home, it will change our economic situation. I have also come to learn that in our area that not many know about Down Syndrome so I will now become an advocate in our area to raise the awareness of Down Syndrome and how although it can change the appearance and cognitive ability of my child it will not prevent my child from being an active member of society.

My hope and goal, as is that of my husband, is in having a child with Down Syndrome coming in the next few months, we will not only raise awareness of Down Syndrome but of children with all different kinds of special needs in order to make our community more accepting of the differences among us in a positive manner.

* All information gathered was found from the National Down Syndrome Society retrieved from http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/Down-Syndrome-Facts/

Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

This week, and last, I enjoyed learning more about the Kindergarten strand of the Early Childhood system since I prepare my students for Kindergarten. What I have learned over the last few years is that the Pre-Kindergarten I teach today is the Kindergarten from when I went to school. I enjoyed learning last week that the Kindergarten program here in my current state is changing to become more play oriented and self monitoring. However, unfortunately the low income status in my current location is still a barrier to overcome in regards to the partnerships and abilities of families and educators to work together for learning purposes.

On the other hand, within the strand I teach (Early care and education) my concern still remains to be the issue of salary and benefits when private sectors are compared to public sectors. If both sectors had educators compensated equally with money and benefits, such as insurance, then more high quality programs would be available for educators and children.