Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

This week I researched the website UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/). One of my professional goals has and will continue to be and advocate for children and their families. It is important for children to have a voice, I will continue to make it a professional goal of mine to make sure their voice and concerns are being heard. “The Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by 193 countries, is the most widely accepted human rights treaty” (UNESCO, n.d.). There is a conference every November where advocates, policy makers, and educators come together to express the importance of early education and its direct affect for them to become full global citizens.

The main adversity that early childhood education faces is the lack of financial resources. This issue obviously hits the under developing countries the most. When these countries are already battling poverty, health concerns, lack of overall education, and much more they do not see early education as a priority. When this occurs the reality of the importance of this resource is obscure. Again, this is where the advocating needs to be at the top of its game. We need to give data, proof, and futuristic outcomes of the positive aspect of early childhood education. Investing in early education can be the positive turn for the community as a whole.

“High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness” (UNESCO, n.d.). I always wonder to myself when I read quotes such as this. I think why doesn’t everyone understand this, isn’t that the natural thought? Maybe because I am a mother and my education has been based in the educational field it comes naturally to me. It seems like such a simple concept to understand that high quality educators should not only educate, but also should care about the children they serve. In any educational setting, young or old, I expect educators to have the compassion to educate and make a difference in a child’s life. Is that so much to expect? When I meet educators who are not fully motivated to do this I wonder why on earth they are in the field. So for me, I will continue to advocate, express the importance of financial resources for early childhood education, and continue to use my compassion for the field to be my driving force.