Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

In trying to contact my international contact was a little troublesome this week, and it would have been the last time so I really wanted her input.

In communicating with her, she stated that there are discussions of the importance of early childhood education before children begin school. They mayor in her state just received money for full day pre-K programs in the public schools, which is in an effort to ensure the children have a certain basic knowledge when the start school. She personally has a problem with the fact that the belief of babies babies being better when at home with mommy is being eradicated, in order to get them in school as early as possible. Though by doing this everything is moving faster, babies can not be babies anymore but have to grow and conform very early. Yet many studies show that most countries with strong educational numbers do not begin till later allowing students to mature and grow before adding all the pressure.
In terms of professional development, it is usually a term thrown around but not truly enforced. Although people meet to discuss new philosophies nothing is put into effect, mostly because no one wants to change what they have been doing. In other words it is up to the individual to develop professionally, since nothing is enforced for them to develop in.

On a personal level, as a professional she would like to open her own early childhood center geared towards students with special needs. The center will provide opportunities for them to learn in their own way and still let them be themselves.She believes that that particular population of children have been warehoused from early and in truth are able to learn just not the same way as the public school dictates. She looks forward to networking with professionals in that field.