Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Final Blog Assignment

Final Blog Assignment


The three consequences that I learned from the international early childhood field is that Walden University was able to show me another picture of what is happening to children around the world.  Through that learning I realized that we too here in the United States have the same issues as it relates to children and finding funding for our programs.  I learned that international professionals have very similar trends and issues that they feel strongly about ensuring every child  receives an education.

One goal in regards to international awareness of issues and trends and collegial relations is sharing what I learned with my data team this school year.  I believe it is important to bring awareness to the teachers I work with that we may brainstorm how to become involved.  By brainstorming together ideas will help us be more successful as a school to become an active in a more visible way.
 

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Blog Assignment: Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3


Blog Assignment: Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

After viewing “UNESCO Education Early Childhood,” one new insight I gained was that the early childhood period extends to eight years of age. 
Another insight I learned was the UNESCO main objective is putting together programs that will benefit early childhood education that includes educating families and providing nutrition and health for children.  The reason I learned why nutrition and health are so important is because most children usually die before the age of 5.  The numbers are very alarming in 3rd world countries.
The last insight I gained was about Inclusive education.  I finally realized that groups and organizations such as “UNESCO really have their work cut out for them.  I first touched on a link named Inclusive education.  This leaded me to information about how girls have been excluded from receiving an education.  Along with disabled children.  My first thought about these types of actions was unheard of.  As I read further I learned that a big percentage of children are girls.  Then I thought if there are more girls, then girls are being prevented from being educated.  It is believed that by excluding girls and disabled children from receiving an education will help with an economy living in poverty.  Children who live with disabilities live in communities but are not expected to get to school or seek an education.  These children will grow up and be unable to contribute to the society they live in.  “UNESCO sponsor programs for children with disabilities to have a chance of an education.
Ten years ago Global Crisis said there would be education for all by “2015.”  As a result of the financial crisis a set back may mean that this goal may not be met.  To ensure progress continues there is some things that need to happen such as invest in teachers and invest into books for students.  If these things do not change children are going to be left behind because of poverty.

Reference:
UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/),

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Blog Assignment: Sharing Web Resources

Blog Assignment: Sharing Web Resources

China is one of the countries I was studying.  I decided to explore the outside link under “Press release.  The topic was about Asia-Pacific government commit to increase cooperation for child rights.  The link leads me to a press release by BEIJING November 2010 that states the cooperation of countries committing to improve upon the rights of 1.2 billion children.  They are committed to three areas:  (1). Disaster risk reduction; (2). Child protection and welfare systems; (3). Ensuring that economic and social development is equitable for all children.
The one area I thoroughly searched of one area of the site was “THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN” 2011 Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity.  I was lead to a YouTube and before listening to it I first thought I would report on what was said on the outside writing.  The outside article talks about the world’s issues and what young people will be faced with as they grow up.  Some examples were climate change, rapid urbanization, the economic recession and rising unemployment.  A number of 1.2 billion young people (adolescents) look to be effected throughout other countries in the world.  Children will suffer from not have a quality education.  UNICEF has step up to the plate to offer children a basic education.  As I listened to the YouTube it featured children singing music that expressed how they as children could clean up their own country.  The whole concept is to empower children and adolescents through educated them so that they will be able to break through the cycle of poverty. 
I did not read about one of the exact issue we have been studying in our class.  However I did read about the “Education Kit on East Africa.”  This kit was put together with the help of “UNICEF Australia in hopes of giving teachers more resources to utilize when trying to get across the message of disasters to the areas children.  It is believed that children need to be counted in as part of the healing process in hopes of relief of anger, anxiety and fear.  By using the “Education Kit teachers will have ready hand strategies to help guide them in dealing with the at hand disasters that have hit their country.  The education kit includes:  (1). A guide for teachers and parent to help you talk about natural disasters and emergencies with you children and students-useful in affected and non-affected communities.  (2) A fact sheet about current humanitarian emergencies. (3). A guide to mobilizing a whole-school response. (4). A fact sheet about how UNICEF works in natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies. (5). Activities to use in the classroom. (6). Information about how your school can help make a difference.
The new information that is available is the things that have been achieved in a year since the Pakistan floods.  (1). Clean water by UNICEF and its partners to 4.5 million people very day. (2). Education services to more than 100,000 children through building Temporary Learning Centres. (3). Sanitation facilities benefiting 1.5 million people. (4). 9 million children have been vaccinated against measles and polio.
I thought the website that featured the YouTube did a great job adding to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education.  The children in the video displayed how they could come together using their talents to make their situations better.  One girl in the video talked about her desire to be educated so that she could make a better life for her child and herself.  After viewing the video and hearing the young lady speak it makes us here in the United States just realize how thankful we should be for the opportunities we have to receive a free education.
One new insight I learned after listening to the audio conversation with “Delila Vasquez.”  I learned about the availability and challenges.  The first one was cost, resources, social issues.  Ms. Vasquez helped me to understand about the way programs are funded and how the funds are spread out among the programs.  For example Head Start verses Early Childhood.  I learned that there are times when the funding for one program has to be spread out between other parts of education.  Preschool, early childhood along with school age children funds are divided up to help all programs.  I also learned that the need is always greater than the funds received.

Resources: