Getting Ready—Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

http://mfposts.blogspot.com/

Here is my first blog for the class on issues and trends in the early childhood field. I am very excited to explore ideas driven by concerns about young children's welfare and development generated in the USA as well as across the world.

Part 1 Establishing Professional Contacts

With the goal of establishing contact with 2 professionals in the field of early childhood, I emailed my friend Sveta who recently moved to El Salvador. About fifteen years ago, Sveta moved from Russia to the U.S. to pursue her bachelor’s. Soon after receiving her undergraduate diploma, she moved to California, was hired as a preschool teacher, and completed a master in early childhood education.
Since Sveta’s background and new location were ideal for my needs, I emailed her at the beginning of the week asking if she could connect me with preschool teachers in El Salvador and in Moscow, Russia. Sveta responded that she would enquire at the local preschool in San Salvador, El Salvador, where consulate children attend classes. Regarding Russia, Sveta informed me that it might be more challenging to find an English speaking early childhood teacher.
Regardless of the difficulties attached to finding professionals outside of the United States, I am very excited at the prospect of exchanging ideas with colleagues across borders. While waiting for answers in El Salvador and Russia, I will extend my research to Canada and France, and use the alternative offering if by next week contacts have still not been established.
To fulfill the requirement for this week, I chose to listen to a podcast from the World Forum Foundation Radio.

Podcast:
TJ Skalski is Principal of The Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School (MECCS), the first Indigenous charter school in Canada. Originally from the Blood Reserve and raised in southern Alberta, she eventually left to complete her education, including a Masters of Education degree.
Surrounded by Mother Nature, MECCS recently moved from Wabamun into the former Saint John’s School of Alberta located 35 minutes southwest of Stony Plain, AB on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River near Genessee. A Program Showcase on MECCS can be found in the January/February 2010 issue of Exchange. (World Forum Foundation Radio).

In this podcast, TJ Skalski gives a testimony of the difficulties incurred by belonging to two worlds one of which having only been recently officially recognized. TJ Skalski mentioned that her mother first lost her rights as first nation woman, “gained them back in 1995”, and those rights were also transferred to her daughter TJ. Although, TJ gained her federal rights back, she still encountered difficulty finding her rightful place in her community. Thanks to her grandmother’s unconditional faith in her, TJ was able to join the education field fulfilling her grandmother’s conviction that she was born to be a teacher.
TJ took the position of 5th principal of a school that had been opened 5 years ago and was the first principal to stay for a second year when a new superintendant, the 6th in the history of the school, was nominated.
In order to foster children’s success in school, TJ realized that “creating a community where culture and language were honored was essential to survival and progress of the people”.
Also, TJ came to realize that she had not fallen in traps such as dropping out of school where many of First Nations People had fallen because her family, mother and grandmother, had been able to pass on “their family values, and strong work ethics to provide for the family”. TJ’s sharing of her own life experience is an asset to her students who can identify with her, benefit from her strong values, and start healing their wounds. As she mentioned, students come to school “damaged, scarred, hungry, depressed, and feeling worthless”, and slowly rebuild hope.
Interestingly, this podcast addressed difficulties shared by immigrant children who belong to two worlds. However, TJ’s story talks about the reinsertion of peoples whose previous status had been obliterated from society and about the devastating effects the non recognition of their cultures had on children and their families.
Resources
World Forum Foundation Radio. Podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.
Episode 7. TJ Skalski. Retrieved from: http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php


Part 2 Expanding Resources
A. Within the United States

Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=31672
(Newsletter: http://www.preknow.org/signupform.cfm )

The Campaign of the Pew Center on the States allows knowing what is done in other states, generates impetus by informing on what other states are doing, and provides the necessary research when developing arguments in favor of programs.

National Head Start Association
http://www.nhsa.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.nhsa.org/news_and_advocacy/advocacy/legislative_eupdate )
“Our mission is to coalesce, inspire and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education.
We are compelled to fulfill this mission by the promise of all the possible outcomes:
• one powerful, united Head Start voice;
• a collegial, collaborative Head Start field, one that is a valuable and valued partner and resource to early childhood development and education;
• nonpartisan support of increased Federal commitment to Head Start and, ultimately
• healthier, empowered children and families and stronger, more vibrant communities.
An Evolving Mission
Over the past 25 years, NHSA's mission has changed from simply defending Head Start in Congress to actively expanding and improving the program. Membership types have been created for Head Start agencies, Head Start state and regional associations, and both commercial and nonprofit organizations. NHSA has an impressive portfolio of services and programs that support and advocate for Head Start”(NSHA).

I chose to refer to the NHSA because the association strives to provide the best education to all children. Also the NSHA’s new standards are research based.


B. Outside the United States

Early Childhood Australia: The Australian Early Childhood Advocacy Organization
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/
(Newsletter: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/contact_us/mailing_list.html )

In the last few years, I have been fascinated by Australia’s diligence in applying new science discoveries to the field of education. This class gives me an opportunity to follow-up with what is current in the land of down under.