Final Blog Assignment-- Learning about the International Early Childhood Field

Learning about the International Early Childhood Field

Corresponding with my international early childhood professional has been resourceful and enlightening.  The three things that will stick with me the most is the quality of life in Togo, the size of the classrooms, and how little emphasis the government puts on early childhood education.

The quality of life in Toga is very poor.  The majority of the children and their families live in poverty.  There are many times were there is no electricity to run the classrooms effectively.

The sizes of the classrooms are huge.  They are especially large for young children who need more supervision than the older children in the upper grades.

I was shocked to learn that Toga’s government does not put much emphasis on early childhood development.  This was surprising to me because of the importance I see stressed here in the United States.

Raissa seems to do so much with what little resources she is allocated.  My goal would be to make all educators more aware of the teaching conditions and learning environment in Toga.  I would want Raissa’s efforts to be an example to all of us educators here in the United States.  I think that if we realize that the trending issues we have in regards to early childhood education is nothing compared to some other countries would make us appreciate the efforts that are being made to make early childhood programs better.  This is not to say we don’t still put the same demands on the government but maybe look at the issues and think of ways to improve the conditions with a more diplomatic approach.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

            Over the weeks in this course Raissa has given me some good insight on the practices there in Toga.  It makes me so much more curious.  I do think that some of our conversation gets lost or confused in translation.  Raissa's government has not really invested into Toga's early childhood educational push.  After hearing about a government that doesn't do much for children or their people makes me appreciate the United States and the efforts that a government like ours does make.

Raissa states that there isn’t a huge government concern when it comes to education there in Toga.  The concern is mostly on a community level.  The quality of early childhood education is poor there.  The well-being of a child there isn’t a big concern health or educational wise.  More of the emphasis’ in regards to education is put on the latter years of schooling.  Issues that the people in the communities try to address are over-sized classrooms, funding for resources such as books, paper, crayons…etc.  There is not much money to pay the teachers too.

To become a teacher at any level you do have to attend school at a University.  Once you attend school at the university you can then teach in a classroom.  There are some families who keep children in the neighborhood.  However it is more to just watch the children, and not really teach them.  The children do pick up some life skills by helping around the house.

Raissa said that her professional goal is to raise awareness of the importance of teaching the children young.  In addition to keep doing the job that she does.  Teach the children, give them a sense of belonging, in some cases being a positive adult figure in their lives.

Raissa stated that some of her dreams include being paid more; not for her own financially gain.  Raissa said that she uses a lot of her own money to do for the children.  So if she had more money she’d be able to do even more.  Raissa will hope that one day her government would not be so corrupt and many changes will be done when it comes to overall education in Toga.

Sharing Web Resources “Week 6”

Sharing Web Resources

“Week 6”

My original resource is the site of National Institute for Early Education Research http://www.nieer.org/.  A couple of the outside links that NIEER leads to is CENTER ON ENHANCING EARLY LEARNING OUTCOMES (CEELO), and PNC-NIEER: A Strategic Partnership in Support of Early Learning in the States.  The link to the CEELO site discussed many different initiatives in regards to assessments of early childhood education programs.

The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) goal is to strengthen the capacity of State Education Agencies (SEAs) to lead sustained improvements in early learning opportunities and outcomes. CEELO will work in partnership with SEAs, state and local early childhood leaders, and other federal and national technical assistance (TA) providers to promote innovation and accountability.  (National Institute for Early Education Research, 2013)

One of the biggest stories on the e-newsletter that I receive was about the government shutdown and the harsh impact the shutdown has on some children’s programs.  With the government being shut down there’s no money to pay the staff, in addition to some grants that expired on October 1^st which caused these centers to be closed (National Institute for Early Education Research, 2013).

I learned that the number of seats for children to attend early childhood programs has increased.  This means that more children can attend programs.  The increase has been increased mostly in the poverty stricken areas.  I’m happy for the increase but I do wish it could happen in all areas.  However the chance to even be able to educate one more child is a step in the right direction.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2 Excellence and Equity of Care and Education for Children and Families

Excellence and Equity of Care and Education for Children and Families

In correspondence with my international early childhood education professional I learned that the conditions there in Togo is very poor and bad; mainly because of the government.  She said their government is very corrupt.  Raissa was saying that sometimes homes won't have electricity for days because of the government is stealing money and resources.  The people who run the government don't care about the students, or the people.  People who are in power there buy their way to the top, and steal to stay there.

The children grow up in very poor environments.  Raissa says where in the past at least children game to school with a little bit of social and life skills.  She said that that is no more.  Teachers there have to be mother, small provider, and teacher.  Classrooms are over crowded which makes it hard to keep control and organization.

Raissa says that the kids make it all worth it.  She tends to be very stern when needs be, but is very nurturing, and easy going.  She said it's definitely not the pay that makes her job worth it.  It's all the hugs as appreciation she receives from the children as gratitude.