week 8

My first goal is to further my knowledge of international awareness by continuing to follow all pertinent newsletters and keep communication open with international professionals.  

My second goal is to continue to learn from my classmates/colleagues through our discussions and blogs. 


Over the last 8 weeks my knowledge has expanded immensely when it came to the early childhood field.  By expanding my perspective globally helped to reaffirm my commitment to being the best early childhood advocate I can possible be.  I never realized that poverty was such a wide epidemic affecting so many.  I teach in a middle school in North Philadelphia.  Many of the students come from poverty ridden families.  I have seen first hand the ramifications that can occur when the development cycle is skewed from natural course.  The last 8 weeks have furthered my understanding of the barriers and inequities that are currently preventing many children from attending programs.  All of the research has come to the same conclusion that effective early childhood programs are an essential part of normal development.   Most issues pertaining to early childhood programs are very similar throughout the world.  It was very encouraging to me to be able to see just how many people commit their lives to the betterment of all children.  Gives me hope that all of the work that has gone in to educate people on the importance of early childhood programs will pay off and things will change for the better.

week 7 - professional goals

  
I have been in contact with Sarah Klaus who is the director of the Network Early Childhood Program, Open Society Foundation, UK Sarah Klaus is Director of Early Childhood Programs (the Network Step by Step Program) at the Open Society Institute (OSI).    The Step by Step Program, OSI’s flagship program, was initiated in 1994 to promote reforms that support universal, accessible, quality early childhood education and development in Central Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.  OSI’s early childhood work now extends globally with an increasing focus on advocacy, policy, and development of leadership to support populations at risk.

Sarah explained that the issue of excellence and quality assurance is a universal hot topic.  It doesn't matter where you reside the allocation of funds and the disparities are always key.  In order to receive proper federal backing statistical research needs to be studied in order for allocation of funds.  Sarah explained that it is always the economic view that is used for positioning.  Research has shown that it is cheaper to invest in early childhood development programs then the varied ramifications that occur when proper development doesn't occur.  

Since Sarah has worked with OSI since its inception she has seen so much growth.  She explained to me that with all of the political and civil unrest in Central Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union that poverty has run rampant.   So far since the inception of step by step the tangible provisions have been implemented throughout the area which include early childhood educational programs for both children and their parents and a different level of initiatives that are aimed at iradicating the developmental gaps that stem from existing impoverished communities.   One of her main goals is to continue to be able to be a strong voice for those who can't.  She would like to be able to further the outreach and reach and help as many individuals as is possible. 

She also feels that it is important that the public service media continues to investigate and report pertinent findings.  It is easy to turn a blind eye to situations that do not initially affect you but with proper media coverage it is hard to ignore the injustices that many peoples face.