Early Childhood Education Myths

 Myth 1: "It's Only Babysitting" 

Ugh...  Did you know that ninety percent of a child's brain development occurs between birth and five years of age?  That's right! NINETY PERCENT!  Holy cow!  That means that in every moment a child is awake, it's a learning opportunity,Early childhood learning is divided into five primary domains. Those are: social, emotional, physical, communication, and cognitive, or thinking on their own.  All of these things, along with a child's health and safety, are things that every early childhood educator must keep in mind on a daily basis.  Most all early childhood educators that I know, get into this profession because they absolutely love children!

Myth 2:  "All you do is play all day." 

The great Fred Rogers said, "Play give children a way to practice what they are learning."  Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imaginations, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. Through play, children learn how to interact with the world around them. Children cannot do this through screen time.  Screen time is not true interaction or playing. Play needs to include some form of physicality, whether that is fine motor or gross motor.

Myth 3: "Anyone Can Be a Preschool Teacher"

To teach public school preschool in Kansas, the teacher must have Early Childhood Certification. In my own educational experience, I graduated with a double major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development, with a minor in Music Education. I then went back to school and got a masters degree in Education.  Teachers are constantly taking workshops and classes in order to keep current with educational trends and how best to serve the ever-changing needs of their students and their families.

Myth 4: "Parents Don't Need to Be Involved in Preschool"

Say what?!?  Families are entrusting their child's teacher with the best of them, their children!  Families know those children better than any teacher could ever hope to. It is vitally important to the child's education that their families ARE involved. Teachers and parents need to work in tandem to help each child be successful in school. Right now, with the pandemic, it's hard for parents to be involved. Many schools are keeping parents out in an effort to curb the spread of the virus to the school population. You can still keep parents in the loop though texting, a variety of apps, newsletters, social media, and a good, old-fashioned phone call.

Myth 5: "Surely Preschool Teachers Are Paid Well"

The average annual cost, per child, for child care in the United States is $8,300 a year. In the program where I work, most of that funding is through a grant from the state.  The yearly enrollment fee, per child, for our program is $65...for a year! This goes to offset the cost supplies for learning activities.

The reality is that preschool teachers are amongst the most undervalued professional out there, ranked even lower than janitors. Yet these teachers are tasked with providing learning opportunities for our most valuable natural resource--our children. I'm lucky. I do not work in a private preschool setting, although I have. Because I work in a school district, I am paid like all other teachers, based on education and experience.  Still, teachers fresh out of college, with student loans to pay, can barely make it on a starting teacher's salary. This leads to many truly amazing teachers leaving the profession, even though they love children. It's a sad commentary.

Several years ago, when a parent said to me, "It's only preschool," I'm not sure they expected the "education" they got, but that kiddo never missed another day of school that year!

Thinking Forward

 .....I have a dream.

"The color of their skin."  Why does skin color matter?  Dig deep and ask yourselves that question. If your answer is that people of color are bad, are "thugs," are criminals, I can guarantee you that there are just as many white people that fall into the same category. Our daughter is a social worker in the prison system. She can back up my claim. Everyone makes poor choices at some point in time. It's part of the learning process.  The fact remains that, based on skin color, there is no difference.

"The content of their character."  Do a Google search for people of color that have changed history. Here are just a few: Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander-the first black women to ear an Ph.D in economics and a law degree. Maya Angelou-a poet. Her works have been considered a defense and celebration of black culture.  Arthur Ashe-Tennis player and founder of the Arthur Ashe Foundation. Received the Medal of Freedom, posthumously.  Ruby Bridges-a just six years old, she was the first person of color to attend and all white school, playing alone at recess, but not missing a single day of school. (How would you feel if your child had to play alone just because of the color of their skin?) Kobe Bryant-besides being a great basketball player, he and his wife started a foundation to address homelessness in Los Angeles. Octavius V. Catto-in part responsible for the 15th Amendment which barred voter discrimination based on race. Bessie Coleman-the first back woman aviator, earning her wings in a record seven months! Rudolph Fisher-physician, radiologist, novelist, and musician. Sojourner Truth-an abolitionist who lectured about racial and gender inferiority. The women of "Hidden Figures," the story of the African-American women behind the scenes at NASA. They are Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan.

     On this, the weekend before we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his words have a profound meaning to me, particularly. You see, eight years ago, on January 18th, we were blessed with our first grandchild. I have said all along that this child radiates pure joy!  Friend! This child is going to move mountains and change the world.   In this photo she is just five years old. She is now thirteen. She is in Junior Honor Society, Honors Band, and plays libero on a traveling volleyball team! She is spunky and sassy and an absolute joy to be around. Just to know her is to love her!

     Had it not been for forward-thinking people, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would she be a part of our family? I can't be sure, however I know that our lives are blessed and so much better because of her. I thank God everyday for her mom and dad who went through insurmountable odd to bring her into our family. I wish I could share their heroic story, though it is not my story to tell. We are blessed!

Craziness: Things I Never Thought I'd See or Do

 

Never, in a million years, did I ever dream I would be living though a worldwide pandemic.

I sure never thought I would see American people, out of control, storming the capitol building in Washington, D.C. I thought we were more civilized than the third world countries I seen taken over by coups.  No matter which side of the aisle you're on, the violence and destruction of property is never acceptable. Never! Making a noose, waving weapons in the air, making threats of violence, these I do not condone.  I teach my students about the importance of using your words and not weapons and violence. What about what those children are seeing? Grown Americans acting like fools, going against what those very children are being told is not okay. How do we rationalize that to our young, vulnerable, children. That are watching and listening. You can be darned sure they are taking mental notes.

And speaking of young children; when I began my teaching career back in 1983, I never dreamed that I'd still be at it, and still loving what I do!  

And while were talking about professional experience, there is no way I ever dreamed that organizers of national educational conferences would ever think that what I had to say was important. That being said, I am putting together a presentation to share at my 3rd national conference, and then meet the man who gave a work and meaning to how I thought education should always be. Who knew??

And lastly, who would have thought that I would be a published author? I was a contributing author to "Stories in Edu: Sailing With a Fleet." A my new friend and edu-hero, Jim, (pictured above) would use a quote from my story in his presentation!