Consequences of Learning

I learned a lot through the international website I visited as an alternative assignment for this course. Among the sites and programs I reviewed were the of the World Forum Foundation, Poverty Research and Policy Centre, Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative”, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO). For instance, poverty isn’t just a problem in the United States. All around the world it is an issue, just in some places the number of those living in or under the poverty level are higher than other places. It seems it should be every nation’s goal to learn from others’ strategies to eliminate and lower poverty levels. Another consequence of learning about the early childhood field internationally is that societies are researching ways to better invest in early childhood. Countries are beginning to see that the more that is invested in children, the better outcomes in their lives they have developmentally, emotionally, and physically. More money is being spent on interventions and medical assistance for children who are need of them. Also, around the globe organizations are working towards creating more opportunities for children from low income families to be involved in quality childcare centers and programs.

A goal that I want to take upon myself is to make myself more knowledgeable about the issues involving children and education in my area. At the district I am employed at now, poverty is a main issue. The district itself is on a low budget, but offers its children the education they need to the best of their abilities. I would like to be involved more in the community also to assist children and families. Unfortunately, I amongst six other quality teachers were cut from the district’s budget for next school year. This just goes to show how school systems and programs lose some quality. They are forced to cut quality teachers and in return the child teacher ratio is affected. Any educator knows that the smaller the class size, the more individual attention students receive. All in all, I have gained much insight throughout this course and will continue my quest in gaining more knowledge about the different issues and trends in the early childhood field to become a better professional and educator.

Resources

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

http://developingchild.hardvard.edu/initiatives/global_intitiatve/
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/