My contact from Italy is on holiday and apparently that is for a 1 month duration. I did however receive information from my contact in Germany. She informs me that there is a European Council/Union that speaks for the majority of Europe. Carolyn had just read this information in the paper and shared it with me.
The German presidency of the European Council lays special emphasis on the topic of equitable access to high quality early childhood education and care for all. The European Union recognizes the importance of early childhood education and care, especially in enhancing social cohesion by breaking the cycle of disadvantage and laying the foundation for lifelong learning as well as contributing to better educational outcomes. (Klein, J., 2012)
Equitable and high quality early childhood education provide the best return in human capital development and a solid foundation for success. Evidence shows us that experiences in early years can have long-term impact on parenting and child development. (Bunting M., 2012)
The United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child and several European texts state what the ideal should be: that every child should have the right to primary health, development and education, first within the family and thereafter in services supported and regulated by the state. (Klein, J., 2012)
Carolyn tells me there was just a national convention that took place in Belgium a few weeks ago and this is the report she is gathering her information from.
The commitment of governments to this ideal is decisive for European children both in the present and the future. (Bennett, J., 2012)
Mounting evidence shows that investment in equitable and high quality early childhood education pays off. It lays the foundation for more effective lifelong learning and social well being. (Roseveare,D., 2012)
Reference:
Das Nachrichtenportal Rhein- Neckar, p.15, 2012)
Carolyn wrote down the reference, but I don't know if they use APA formatting there. I did mention it, but she didn't reply. I am only copying the reference from her email!
Hey Deb! This is awesome information! What a wonderful way to really see what is going on around the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
Cortnee :)
I read about the National Convention in Belgiun that Carolyn spoke about, I so enjoy attending early childhood conferences, and I have been fortunate to be able to attend one aleast once a year here in the United States. Hopfully one day I may be able to travel to a national early childhood conferernce.
ReplyDeleteHello Deb,
ReplyDeleteI was just reading the Global Children’s Initiative and they were trying to make comparisons to European children. The problem was the child’s culture was too different to make the comparison. The United Nations wants to ensure that children are healthy, have access to an education is developmentally appropriate (Klein, 2012). The children in Zambia need help in fighting off malaria, their health issues are tremendous. Just as we are making a commitment to working with our children, but getting to know them and what is right for them, the people that did the study in Zambia, had to get to know what the children played with, and also how they lives so that they could do a study in making comparison to children of the world. The data was to be collected and complied to show that an anti-malaria program would help the development of the children in physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive. Just as in the ECLS Study (Kagan, 2009) the study is taking place over a period of time.
Resources:
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/
Graue, E. (2008). Teaching and learning in a post-DAP world. Early Education & Development, 19(3), 441–447.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Issues & Trends in the Early Childhood Field. Baltimore, MD: Author
Kagan, S. L. (2009). American early childhood education: Preventing or perpetuating inequity? (Equity Matters: Research Review No. 3). Retrieved from Campaign for Educational Equity website: http://www.equitycampaign.org/i/a/document/9833_EquityMatters_Kagan_Final.pdf