The GAP – Early Childhood education and Compulsory Education

I was reading my text for my ECE program delivery class when a section of the chapter stood out to me. (The book is called Early Childhood and Compulsory Education: Reconceptualizing the relationship. Edited by Peter Ross)

The chapter was based on a interview Peter Ross and Gunilla Dahlberg had. The chapter talked about the gap between ece and the school system. Stating that both fields need to acknowledge common traits and the discourse in equality, which is partial due to parents lack of recognition that ece is a legitimate field of professionals and the difference in salary.

I found this interesting as premier Wynn just raised ECE pay in the province of Ontario.I wonder if this is Ontario’s start to legitimizing the ece profession? Will society begin to transition us from caregivers( a nicer word for babysitters) to actual educators? Maybe if these type of government initiated actions are continued, theres hope in the next 20 years?

A fellow ece student commented and asked me, “Do you think that higher wages will help acknowledge the ECE field as a legitimate profession? or do you think that society needs to be informed more accurately on what the ECE profession truly brings to the table?  ….From my experience I get alot of “All you do is take care of kids….. how hard can it  be?” or you get paid XYZ for watching kids all day?  haha I dont think many people actually understand the ECE field…. or maybe they do?…. -shrug- “.

I replied this to her:

I think both, and even then there’s more aspects that need to be address in order for us to be “recognized” in the manner our profession would like. Along with educating the public there are a lot of members currently in the field that need to upgrade their own knowledge (the ECE program is not the same as it was 10 years ago- even five years ago). Also keep in mind that there are people in are field who are just in it because they want to be higher paid babysitters (ive encountered a few) or people with little education that claim to be ECE’s and are not. None the less, with anything in life, things take time. This is just another thing, that is going to take time to get use to, acknowledge and implement. As ECE’s our job is to educate and correct negative attitudes towards our profession. It sucks but it’s something we got to do.

What are your thoughts?

Catching Kayla- Inspiration for Everyone

I hope to inspire the children I teach to never give up and install a positive attitude to problem solve when faced with challenges. As life is not one smooth ride, we must prepare children with the tools for success. This is an inspiration for me as a teacher, as a member of society and as a person. I hope to strive to be more like this girl and her coach in all I do. Nothing but inspiration.

Changing Times- We move Forward, Not behind!!!

Anyone who is from Mississauga, Ontario or has been to SQ1 will find this one interesting. I found this picture of square one, it was taken from a bird’s eye view about 40 years ago. Its amazing and scary (in a way), to see how we have progressed and things have changed. We are a race of innovation and constant progression. My hope for the future is that we progress enough to realize what we are doing to our planet earth and realize that earth is the only planet that can sustain life. We need to love and protect it, otherwise we just might be the creators of our destruction.