As early childhood educators, we must uphold a standard that reflects our professionalism and genuine care for the young children and families we serve. To keep this at the forefront of our minds the NAEYC and DEC has complied a code of ethics. These codes outline the behaviors that early childhood professionals should display in an educational setting. Below, I have listed three ideals that are meaningful to me along with their significance to my professional life.
NAEYC
Ideal:
I-1.8- To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities.
Significance:
This ideal holds significance for me because it reminds me that children need opportunities to play even though early childhood education today emphasizes academics in the classroom. It supports my belief that play is beneficial to young children because it fosters language, social, and motor skills. Furthermore, it encourages meaningful relationships between young children.
Ideal:
I-1.9- To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to support services needed to be successful.
Significance:
This ideal is significant to me because it points out that all early childhood professionals should be involved in advocacy on some level. It also makes it very clear that all children deserve access to quality educational services. Children are the most vulnerable in our society and they need someone to speak on their behalf.
DEC
Ideal: Enhancement of Children's and Families' Quality of Lives:
1. We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture.
Significance:
This ideal has significance because it mentions how important it is to respect our colleagues' diversity just as we would young children and their families. Early childhood professionals should maintain a respectful disposition that is welcoming to everyone. This type of disposition allows for open and honest communication among colleagues and fosters meaningful relationships that are necessary for collaboration.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI respect the code of ethics that you chose as being significant to you. Play is vitally important to learning. I'm glad that new trends are being endorsed and bought to the forefront of issues in early childhood education. I remember my childhood. It was fun and experimental. We enjoyed playing and discovering new phenomenas during play. We learned so much by accident through exploration. Our children today spend so much time inside, sitting at desks and engaged in sedentary tasks such as video games, computers, cellphones, etc., that they miss out on the opportunities of simple and creative outdoor play.
Advocating for children and families is also a very important code of ethics. Many families need support to help their children and as professionals we need to be the bridge that fills in the gap. Keeping resources organized and handy is helpful when assisting and connecting families to people and organizations that can provide assistance to them in times of need.
Tabitha Abney
I think I may have concerns because of the structure in which I teach. And in the way that we have meetings. Our meetings are very specific and there are often tense exchanges. It is worrisome and this causes divided to form. Schools and teams need assistance to maintain a feeling of trust...I do respect my colleagues. BUT, there are times that because kindergarten may be different than the upper grades, there should be some time of modifications.. (Schools forget the early childhood is developmentally different!)
ReplyDeleteI really like your comment about respecting and appreciating the diversity among our colleagues, just as we would those of children and families. If we can feel that we are working with others in an environment based on respect, collaboration, and overall positive improvement, it makes difficult issues a little easier to handle. We often have to discuss "touchy" situations, but due to the relationships we have built, we can learn to put OUR feelings aside in order to address the best scenarios for the children. It certainly does not take all of the stress or awkwardness out of the moment, but we can all rest assured that even if we happen to disagree, we are working toward a common goal.
ReplyDelete