I have really enjoyed the blog assignments for this class. Although I was not able to make any connections with other childhood educators abroad, I have learned a lot of things about early childhood issues and trends in other areas of the world through my classmates, podcasts, and by researching various websites.
One of the most important things that I have learned is that we all face similar issues no matter the geographical location. Equity, poverty, and quality seem to be the most pervasive issues and common threads among the many issues that our children and families face.
I also learned, sadly, that many children in third world countries also have to worry about clean drinking water and that many children in our own country face a lack of basic medical care.
In addition to these areas of concern, I have learned that many early educators all around the globe have a genuine interest in making the world a better place for children. Many of us are concerned about helping families meet basic needs but we are also concerned about high-quality childcare, the lack of accessibility and equity in early childhood, and the implications of rapidly changing demographics.
It is my hope that through the connections that I have made during this class that I will continue to learn and grow and have many more opportunities to share my knowledge and learn from the experiences of others.
I agree with you that educators always have the best interest of the children in their hearts. It is their goal to make the world a better place and educate our future. I know that I am worried about my students that I know do not have resources at home or know the next time they will eat when not at school. My wish for you is to continue to grow your education and continue to share your knowledge!
ReplyDeleteDear Monette,
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading you blog and discussion posts. Thanks for being a part of my learning community and helping me gain more knowledge and perspective on various issues affecting early childhood. I agree with you that no matter the geographical location, the issues of quality, equity and poverty are widespread in varying degrees across the globe.
I wish you all the best in this course and hope you are successful in pursuing your passion and dreams.
Cheers!
Sonali
Monette,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post. I too had no success in communicating with international contacts but I think reaching out was still beneficial. I agree with what you said about the issues and trends that we have studied this course being a common thread. Many of us in the classroom are from diverse backgrounds and countries and yet you could see the similar "threads" reflected in our discussions. Thanks again and best of luck to you! Tammy