I can't believe it's already week 4 of my Issues and Trends class! This week's questions are are about the newsletter I've been reading through Early Childhood Australia Web Watch.
- What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?
In this week's newsletter there is a section on debt help for early childhood teachers. In Australia if you work in a school with high needs the government will help you pay off your student debt. What a great idea! That would be a great perk for early childhood teachers in the U.S. This makes me curious about if any such programs do exist in the US to help teachers in my field.
- Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?
The newsletter talked about fighting e-bullying by educating early childhood students early on. In the article they explained how technology is being used by younger and younger children. Teaching children early on to make kind choices will help them throughout their lives. I can see how this may be controversial because many people don't believe that young children should be have much or any screen time.
- What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?
In this newsletter there is a report on nutrition in early childhood education. This article talks about the future benefits proper nutrition has on children even when they became adults. This is information that economists, neuroscientists and politicians would take into account when looking at early childhood education as an "investment" for our economy.
- What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?
In Australia February 21st is National Day of Action against Violence and Bullying. I think this is a great idea to raise awareness about these topics. Any opportunities to focus on reducing violence can greatly help our young children. I gained a lot of great information from the newsletter this month!
Great post and I love your website. In North Carolina we have a program called loan forgiveness and if you agree to teach in the state of North Carolina for a certain number of years your loans will be forgiven. I believe other states should do this as well.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteNice job, there was a lot of news! I would be very interested if you find any programs that pay off college debt for an ECE degree. In my county because we are concidered frontier the county pays off our therapists debt after working 5 years but only if they have the degree in phycology so I don't qualify :(.
Bullying is such an awaful thing whether online or in person. I appreciate that they are attempting to do something about it. Your right about children shouldn't have a lot of screen time but most do, I enjoyed reading your update.
Jenn Pore`
Wow- Like the others, it would be great to have student loans paid off. I know when you go into Teach For America, part of your education is paid off....not sure of all the details on that. But I wish it was more then just that organization.
ReplyDelete