An Important Current Issue in Early Childhood Education

Marcy Whitebook, Director of the Center for Study of Child Care Employment states a sad fact:

"The unfortunate reality is that child care employment offers low wages, few job benefits, and limited opportunity for professional advancement"(Whitebook 1999)

     Reference:  Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol 563(1),146-161

Raymond Hernandez, Educational Director at the University of Southern California,  echoes my thoughts:

"I am not here to save the world, but I am here to make a difference"

Louise Derman-Sparks, Professor Emeritus at Pacific Oak College mirrors my passion for children's development:

"Make sure all children were taught in an environment and ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow".

THE FATHER OF SPECIAL EDUCATION--Jean Marie Gaspard Itard

The following is an excerpt from the book
 An Historical Account of the Discovery and Education of a Savage Man (Itard 1802)
which details the findings of Itard's study of the boy who had been found living in the wild woods of France with presumably no social interaction during his development. After studying and working with the child, approximately 12 years old when found, some civilazation was made but Itard was not considered successful in his efforts by most experts. Here he is trying to explain some progress with emotion:

     "For instance, if I go to his chamber, in the evening, when he is about to retire to rest, the first thing that he does is to prepare himself for my embrace; then draw me to him, by laying hold of my arm; and making me sit on his bed. Then in general he siezes my hand, draws it over his eyes, his forehead, and the back part of his head, and detains it with his own, a long time, applied to those parts.

     People may say what the please, but I will ingeniously confess, that I submit, without reluctance, to all these little marks of infantine fondness. Perhaps I shall be understood by those who consider how much effect is produced upon the mind of the infant, compliances, apparently trivial, all small marks of that tenderness which nature hath implanted in the heart of a mother; the expression of which incites the first smile, and awakens the earliest joys of life"(pp 75-76)

Retrieved from www.unz.org/Pub/ItardJean-1802.Mar 27 2014

Be sure to click on "MY CHILDHOOD WEB" in the top margin to see  Page 2

The Child I Failed

When I first considered this post, I immediately thought of my very first charge, an 18 month old girl who had the most peculiar behavior I ever encountered. Long involved story-- but she is on the autism spectrum, received lots of services, taught her mother and me lots about rights and inclusion, and is now 20 years old. She and her family are still close to mine; she spent a week with us each summer since we moved away, and still chats with me on FB about her part time jobs.
A more accurate story about why I feel passionate about helping families in my future is about little boy who came to my home day care because his mom was eligible for social services, and I was a licensed provider for them. I failed him by not getting him the help he needed. I had some training in family connections, but not enough. Not in the untraditional types of parents who were facing personal challenges even before their unplanned pregnancy. I thought I knew all about special needs because of "my" little girl (we became very close), and suspected that Jason was exhibiting issues. He was 30 months old, and did not acknowledge any communication directed at him. He had no verbal skills at all except crying and screeching. When trying to talk to mom, who was 18, going to college and living with her parents, she did not want to believe what I was trying to tell her. One day she told me a story about locking him in his room so she could do her homework and he had thrown himself against the door for over an hour, until he finally emptied all his clothing from his drawers, made a pile in the middle of the floor, and fell asleep. She had thought this was funny, and I was upset. From her accounts, he received little to no affection or attention at home. She would complain that he didn't want her, wouldn't come when she called him, and pushed her away if she tried to hug him. I pleaded with her to have at least his hearing tested, and to give him more of her time. This was not received well, and our relationship became strained.
After a month more of performing my own uneducated tests, and no cooperation from her, I called CPS and filed a medical neglect charge. They came to see him and took my report. She knew it had been me that filed the report, and angrily took him from my care. I have never seen or heard from him again, and will always feel tremendous sadness and guilt wondering had I approached the situation differently, could he have been with me and at least gotten love in the hours he spent at my home. I think of this boy often, especially when shaping my vision for helping families now and in the future. I want to be sure to say and do the right things to ensure every child gets the proper consideration from the people in their lives.

This is my all time favorite book. I have included it in many lesson plans and theme activities, as well as always having it available in the class library. Its simple frankness of the fact that, whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever your beliefs, traditions, or what your day to day living entails, we inevitably all bleed the same boo boos, cry the same sadness and feel the same loves.

I questioned my mother about all the clothing I have on when the date on the bottom says "June"...she says it is just another example of what a bad parent she was! She would always bundle up my brother and I for fear we would get sick.In June.Oh Ma, I love you ;)))

I think I've got it!! Now how to find out my own address :/