scholarly journals Conceptions of US and Brazilian early childhood care and education: A historical and comparative analysis

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia B. L. Freitas ◽  
Terri L. Shelton ◽  
Jonathan R. H. Tudge
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
The United States ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Integration Of Care ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care

Children's first years of life are fundamental for healthy development. Appropriate care and education in the early years are far more useful than dealing with later problems, and in both the United States and Brazil scholars and public-policy makers have argued that the goal should be an integrated system of care and education. Using a cultural—historical framework to understand early childhood policies in the United States and Brazil, we examine how notions of care and education have changed over time. We show that although the two societies have the same goal, the approaches to realizing that goal have been, for historical reasons, quite different. Moreover, despite a rapid growth in the numbers of children attending preschool institutions, integrated systems have not been accomplished. Our analysis also shows how the legacy of a dichotomous approach in both societies has impeded the integration of care and education into a single system.

scholarly journals Analysis of relations between “equality of life chances” and “early childhood care and education”, as foundations for social justice and human development: a case study of Mauritius

Afrika Focus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Morabito
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Life Chances ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Qualitative Focus Groups ◽  
Quantitative Analyses

In this research, we have analysed the relations between equality of life chances and early childhood care and education (ECCE). During the last decades we have seen a constant growth in socio-economic inequalities world-wide. Yet, in the same period, we have acknowledged an increasing attention, among scholars and policy makers, to early childhood education as a prominent (and consensual) equalizing policy. We critically reviewed this claim, by using a mixed method research, including a theoretical analysis through a critical literature review, quantitative analyses of a longitudinal database, and qualitative focus groups with parents in Mauritius. Findings suggest ECCE can only be an equaliser if accompanied by a change in the educational and social structures. Conclusions highlight the need of focusing further research on detecting complex mechanisms of accumulation of disadvantage in specific groups, and assessing the equalising effects of diverse interventions during early years, including income redistribution. Key words: equality, education, early childhood, Mauritius 

scholarly journals Analysis of relations between “equality of life chances” and “early childhood care and education”, as foundations for social justice and human development: a case study of Mauritius

Afrika Focus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91
Author(s):  
Christian Morabito
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Life Chances ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Qualitative Focus Groups ◽  
Quantitative Analyses

In this research, we have analysed the relations between equality of life chances and early childhood care and education (ECCE). During the last decades we have seen a constant growth in socio-economic inequalities world-wide. Yet, in the same period, we have acknowledged an increasing attention, among scholars and policy makers, to early childhood education as a prominent (and consensual) equalizing policy. We critically reviewed this claim, by using a mixed method research, including a theoretical analysis through a critical literature review, quantitative analyses of a longitudinal database, and qualitative focus groups with parents in Mauritius. Findings suggest ECCE can only be an equaliser if accompanied by a change in the educational and social structures. Conclusions highlight the need of focusing further research on detecting complex mechanisms of accumulation of disadvantage in specific groups, and assessing the equalising effects of diverse interventions during early years, including income redistribution.

scholarly journals Fostering Eco-Cultural Literacies for Social, Cultural and Ecological Justice: A Perspective From Aotearoa (New Zealand)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Sustainable Futures

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Pedagogies that reflect the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples have potential to foster young children’s empathy for our planet as well as for other humans and for more-than-human kin such as mountains, rivers, forests, plants, fish, insects and animals. This article explores some ways in which early years educators can implement pedagogical strategies that encompass the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples. These pedagogical strategies are illustrated through data gathered from children, teachers and families in two early childhood centres that participated in a wider study of early childhood care and education settings in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The data show how these pedagogical approaches can generate dispositions of respect and restraint with regard to use of resources whilst introducing children to traditional Indigenous sustainability practices. Eco-cultural literacies provide a counter-narrative to dominant discourses that perpetuate the exploitation of our planet and her resources whilst confining the focus of education to predetermined, narrow literacy and numeracy standards. In drawing upon ancient wisdoms, there are implications for how early childhood care and education settings internationally can engage in localised eco-cultural literacies that offer hope for sustainable futures.

scholarly journals EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE & EDUCATION: AN ICT PERSPECTIVE

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumar Mishra ◽  
Anthony Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

In the 21st century, technology serves to reinforce the educational bedrock of any country. Technology has revolutionized the teaching learning process by integrating different source of knowledge - clearly visible from primary to post-tertiary level. This paper examines the introduction of ICT in early childhood years centred on the relationship of ICT with the cognitive, emotional and social development of children. The paper discusses various aspects of the ongoing debate around ICT usage in the early years and tries to answer some of the relevant issues namely, the rationale for early introduction of ICT, the perceived risks and benefits involved in its usage, the role of the parents, and fostering appropriate application of ICT in the early childhood classrooms.

scholarly journals Sustainability and Relationality Within Early Childhood Care and Education Settings in Aotearoa New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Ethic Of Care ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Teachers College ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care

This paper discusses one aspect of a recently completed two-year study, that of the enactment of relationality within early childhood care and education practice. The research project, Titiro Whakamuri, Hoki Whakamua. We are the future, the present and the past: caring for self, others and the environment in early years' teaching and learning, involved ten early childhood centres from across New Zealand (Ritchie et al. 2010). Relationality refers to our lived relation to other human beings, other living creatures, and to the non-living entities with whom we share our spaces and the planet. The study has demonstrated some ways in which early childhood educators were able to extend children's understandings of their relationality, their connectedness to others, and to the natural world, following theoretical underpinnings of the Indigenous Māori, such as manaakitanga (caring, generosity) and kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship) (Tikanga Māori. Living by Māori values, Wellington, Huia, 2003), and of western epistemologies such as an ethic of care (The challenge to care in schools: An alternative approach to education, New York, Teachers College Press, 2005a; Educating citizens for global awareness, New York, Teachers College Press, 2005c, Philosophy of education, Boulder, Westview Press, 2007). © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

scholarly journals Fostering Eco-Cultural Literacies for Social, Cultural and Ecological Justice: A Perspective From Aotearoa (New Zealand)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Sustainable Futures

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Pedagogies that reflect the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples have potential to foster young children’s empathy for our planet as well as for other humans and for more-than-human kin such as mountains, rivers, forests, plants, fish, insects and animals. This article explores some ways in which early years educators can implement pedagogical strategies that encompass the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples. These pedagogical strategies are illustrated through data gathered from children, teachers and families in two early childhood centres that participated in a wider study of early childhood care and education settings in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The data show how these pedagogical approaches can generate dispositions of respect and restraint with regard to use of resources whilst introducing children to traditional Indigenous sustainability practices. Eco-cultural literacies provide a counter-narrative to dominant discourses that perpetuate the exploitation of our planet and her resources whilst confining the focus of education to predetermined, narrow literacy and numeracy standards. In drawing upon ancient wisdoms, there are implications for how early childhood care and education settings internationally can engage in localised eco-cultural literacies that offer hope for sustainable futures.

scholarly journals Sustainability and Relationality Within Early Childhood Care and Education Settings in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Ethic Of Care ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Teachers College ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care

This paper discusses one aspect of a recently completed two-year study, that of the enactment of relationality within early childhood care and education practice. The research project, Titiro Whakamuri, Hoki Whakamua. We are the future, the present and the past: caring for self, others and the environment in early years' teaching and learning, involved ten early childhood centres from across New Zealand (Ritchie et al. 2010). Relationality refers to our lived relation to other human beings, other living creatures, and to the non-living entities with whom we share our spaces and the planet. The study has demonstrated some ways in which early childhood educators were able to extend children's understandings of their relationality, their connectedness to others, and to the natural world, following theoretical underpinnings of the Indigenous Māori, such as manaakitanga (caring, generosity) and kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship) (Tikanga Māori. Living by Māori values, Wellington, Huia, 2003), and of western epistemologies such as an ethic of care (The challenge to care in schools: An alternative approach to education, New York, Teachers College Press, 2005a; Educating citizens for global awareness, New York, Teachers College Press, 2005c, Philosophy of education, Boulder, Westview Press, 2007). © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

scholarly journals Fostering Eco-Cultural Literacies for Social, Cultural and Ecological Justice: A Perspective From Aotearoa (New Zealand)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Sustainable Futures

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Pedagogies that reflect the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples have potential to foster young children’s empathy for our planet as well as for other humans and for more-than-human kin such as mountains, rivers, forests, plants, fish, insects and animals. This article explores some ways in which early years educators can implement pedagogical strategies that encompass the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples. These pedagogical strategies are illustrated through data gathered from children, teachers and families in two early childhood centres that participated in a wider study of early childhood care and education settings in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The data show how these pedagogical approaches can generate dispositions of respect and restraint with regard to use of resources whilst introducing children to traditional Indigenous sustainability practices. Eco-cultural literacies provide a counter-narrative to dominant discourses that perpetuate the exploitation of our planet and her resources whilst confining the focus of education to predetermined, narrow literacy and numeracy standards. In drawing upon ancient wisdoms, there are implications for how early childhood care and education settings internationally can engage in localised eco-cultural literacies that offer hope for sustainable futures.

scholarly journals Fostering Eco-Cultural Literacies for Social, Cultural and Ecological Justice: A Perspective From Aotearoa (New Zealand)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Sustainable Futures

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Pedagogies that reflect the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples have potential to foster young children’s empathy for our planet as well as for other humans and for more-than-human kin such as mountains, rivers, forests, plants, fish, insects and animals. This article explores some ways in which early years educators can implement pedagogical strategies that encompass the eco-cultural literacies of local Indigenous peoples. These pedagogical strategies are illustrated through data gathered from children, teachers and families in two early childhood centres that participated in a wider study of early childhood care and education settings in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The data show how these pedagogical approaches can generate dispositions of respect and restraint with regard to use of resources whilst introducing children to traditional Indigenous sustainability practices. Eco-cultural literacies provide a counter-narrative to dominant discourses that perpetuate the exploitation of our planet and her resources whilst confining the focus of education to predetermined, narrow literacy and numeracy standards. In drawing upon ancient wisdoms, there are implications for how early childhood care and education settings internationally can engage in localised eco-cultural literacies that offer hope for sustainable futures.

scholarly journals The Sacred and the Profane in Early Childhood: An Englishman's Guide to Context and Policy

2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Gammage
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Divorce Rate ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Early Childhood Care ◽  
Childhood Care

The change in family structures throughout the post-natural world (‘post-natural’ is used in the way that Anthony Giddens [BBC Reith Lectures, 1999] uses the term, i.e. when even child-rearing is largely no longer ‘natural’ and when institutions, technology and commerce have increasing sway over all dimensions of life) is briefly discussed together with some pressures that now inhibit, inform or constrain modern child rearing. The decline in the birth rate throughout Europe, Scandinavia, North America, and Australasia and the accelerating divorce rate are also seen as part of this changing context. Within these broad social changes comes the recent research on brain development during the early years of childhood. The extreme plasticity of the brain is discussed, as is the paradoxical and now somewhat archaic tendency for formal systems of education to invest in childhood after much of the formative learning is over. The article proposes that for ‘fitness of purpose’ we need educators and carers of vision and compassion, yet articulate and well read. It sees early childhood care and education as indivisible. The article notes that both policies and commercial interests may sometimes cause tension between indoctrination and education and between ‘accountability’ and professionalism. It sees professionalism as inherently ‘problematic’ and rightly about judgement, not about certainty. It insists that teachers and carers should be well educated, not merely trained, and suggests that without the intervention of effective, knowledgeable early years professionals, societies may increasingly lack a collective identity, unity and, perhaps, actual humanity. It builds upon this to suggest that integration of the prime services is best clustered around that of effective childcare and early education and that a professional yet ‘seamless approach’ to families, especially those in poverty, will handsomely repay child achievement and societal and family cohesion in the long term.

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