Code of Ethics

                                                             Code of Ethics      

                                                Most beautiful and powerful

                                                       Uplifting and nurturing             

                                                                    Gifts

                I feel so lucky to have turned my focus to the field of early childhood.  It has rekindled my confidence in education because early years professionals think in terms of the big picture, and work from their passion for children.  Research drives the field and practitioners do their best to apply the results and as quickly as possible.  Contributing to this progressive group of educators is inspiring and re-energizing.

                Starting with a preamble perhaps alluding to the U.S. constitution and the fundamental importance of the text, the National Association for the Education of Young Children revised their Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment in April 2005. 

                NAEYC’s principle 1.2, section on “Ethical Responsibilities to Children (p.3), reads:

                                We shall care for and educate children in positive emotional and social environments that are cognitively stimulating and that support each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure.

This principle encapsulates what anyone working with children must answer for.   It is up to the administrative leadership to provide regular trainings for all staff, in order to ensure best practices.

                In section II “Ethical Responsibilities to Families”, ideals I-2.4, I-2.5, and I-2.8 caught my attention because too often families, and not only from different cultural background, are criticized, judged, and belittled in schools. These ideals stipulate:

                                To listen to families, acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and learn from families as we support them in their task of nurturing children.

                                To respect the dignity and preferences of each family and make an effort to learn about its structure, culture, language, customs, and beliefs.

                                To help family members enhance their understanding of their children and support the continuing development of their skills as parents.

As children spend a great deal of their life in school, it is obvious that schools need to work in partnership with parents so that both teachers and parents learn from each other and best serve, educate and nurture children.  

                 

                 In August 2009, the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children wrote their Code of Ethics, the backbone of the organization (DEC, 2009). As my understanding of family participation has deepened, I find necessary to have the following points as mantra (DEC, III):

                                We shall respect, value, promote, and encourage the active participation of ALL families by engaging families in meaningful ways in the assessment and intervention processes.

                                We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers of services for their children.

                                We shall collaborate with families and colleagues in setting meaningful and relevant goals and priorities throughout the intervention process including the full disclosure of the nature, risk, and potential outcomes of any interventions.

There is an urgent need to recognize, accept, and approve all facets of a human being starting at age zero. It will take local, regional, and federal policies to change obsolete outlooks on differences, physical or mental. Surely, these policies will bring about a more peaceful world.

I am in!

                                                               References

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from

http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

DEC. The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from

http://www.dec-sped.org/