As a consequence of interacting with international early childhood professionals via web sites, I am reminded that there are many others who share my very same goals and hopes for children's lives as they grow and become contributing adults in a world that will need them, too.
They legitimize my beliefs in the critical nature of committing to children the tools necessary to live at peace and prosperity.
We no longer live far apart from each other, and so communication about needs and strategies can be shared with a world wide pool of professionals.
We also have much to share and learn from each other about poverty, its sources and its consequences on the lives of children, who might grow up to be leaders, or not. I found the issue of poverty to present more differences than similarities between the poverty we experience in the United States, and that which is found in developing nations. There is no single source of poverty, and so its eradication will come from a collaboration of professionals in many fields who know the people and needs of the local area. There remains a common strategy, however, in appropriate care and education of young children as a long term investment in any country's well-being.
My goal is to continue searching out early childhood professionals from around the world who can help me better understand the needs of the children I serve now, and those that I may serve in the future. The United States continues to be an attractive home for immigrants. Keeping abreast of international child and family issues may prepare me to be more sensitive to immigrant children's needs and strengths whenever they arrive in my community.
2 comments:
Mary,
We seems that we are taking away similar ideas from this course. I too want to be able to continue to reach to professionals worldwide. We have the ability to learn so much from each other. On a smaller level I feel like I have been able to learn so much from each of you throughout this course and have accomplished so much, imagine what could be done on a global level. Best of luck as we move on to the next course.
Mary,
I agree that we must be prepared to receive the diversity of all children that enter our classrooms. That is an important element that can be gained by staying in touch with the international community. Through those connections we can have knowledge of the issues of a particular culture that we may encounter locally.
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