Week 8

International Reflection

1.   As a result of the podcasts and information shared by others who were able to contact an early childhood professional in another country I have a deeper understanding of the issues that face the field of early childhood across the world.  It seems that all countries face many of the same issues that we explored in this class. 

2.  The World Forum (http://worldforumfoundation.org)  podcasts and information were helpful in providing information about individuals who are making a difference in the lives for children in the U.S. and other countries. 

3.  The websites that I explored include:

·      Poverty Research and Policy Centre website (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/).

·      Center for the Developing Child (http://developingchild.harvard.edu)

·      National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) (www.nieer.org)  

·      UNESCO (http://unesco.org)

Each of these website provided many useful resources that deepened my understanding about early care and education on other countries, the challenges they face and initiatives that show promise.  Each of the websites also included links to other sites that provided additional information about issues facing the field.  I was also able to learn more about some of the specific factors affecting issues like poverty and access to early education.  For instance, I discovered that the move towards a more democratic and capitalist way of doing business resulted in the loss of government jobs for many.  I also learned that in some countries like China, do not offer free education for its children.  I also learned about a tiered system for determining the professional requirements for early childhood professionals based on their role and the age of the children with whom they work which could be a helpful in bridging the gap in the United States between care and education. 

International Goal

The one goal that I have for the field of early childhood related to the international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations is that we find an effective way to share information and strategies.  While there are efforts to do this with the leaders of various countries, it is important that those on the front line have a forum for the exchange of information, mentoring and reflection.