Thoughts from RevJ: ISSUES AND TRENDS IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD

Saturday, September 10, 2011

ISSUES AND TRENDS IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD

For the class titled 'Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field', we have been asked to contact two EC professionals outside of the United States. The purpose is to learn the trends and issues of other countries from on hand professionals.

I had not thought before this class about the contacts I already have at my access. My church international affiliation has churches all over the the world. I chose to reach out to some of the African people that I know personally. One contact is a principle of a pre-k to 12th grade school. Eld. Gaye is traveling in the U.S. right now. I emailed and will call the secretary of the Global Missions overseer to speak with him or receive a good email contact for him.

For my second contact, I emailed Eld. Ford, Jr. who has been instrumental in starting schools and building wells in another part of Africa. He promised to contact me Monday with contact information for an administrator or a teacher at one of the schools.

Because my first job in EC is administration, I need to know how to assist the teachers of our center. I chose the site NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATORS to study during this class.

I'm grateful for this opportunity because it will give me first hand information of the conditions of the schools that I have been supporting monetarily from a distance. I would be happy to share my extra contacts with my classmates if needed.

6 comments:

Jessica Noemi TorresSeptember 10, 2011 at 2:07 PM
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Jessica Noemi TorresSeptember 10, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Jayme:

I encourage to keep trying. What count are the intent and the effort! Hopefully they will contact you. Wish you, luck.
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Fawn ThomasSeptember 11, 2011 at 5:58 AM
I also wanted to make contact with Africa, I am glad that you are making headway with your professional contacts. I emailed two people in Africa, but their email address were no good the emails were returned to me. So I chose two other countries to make contact with.
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Amy SmithSeptember 11, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Sounds like you have 2 great potential contacts! The organization you decided to explore: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATOR, is a wonderful resource. I use it often in my program. Best of luck!
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Mrs Van MeterSeptember 11, 2011 at 12:11 PM
That is awesome that before this course you already had relationships established. I have emailed but as of late still not had a response from anyone if you have any contacts that you could share it would be extremely appreciated.
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Barbara2September 11, 2011 at 12:21 PM
When we have mission contacts it can take us to some unusual and interesting place. I worked in Africa as a teacher for missionary children and two African children. Those contacts have not been successful but I know how busy they are so it might all come through later. I did try the several e-mail contacts through one organization and received a no such address for all of them.
What mission organization are you a part of?
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RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

John Donne (1572-1631) said '...no man is an island...'. Human beings require relationships as we matriculate through life. However significant to us, we need other beings. Even if one went out and lived from the elements around no other humans, that individual would need some other beings to live. Further more, we are born because people came together and when we pass on someone will handle our remains and effects. Relationships of every kind (family, social, professional, religious, romantic) require efforts and maintence from the parties involved.

Some Personal Relationships

I live in a (penthouse type) apartment with a friend of mine I became acquainted with at church. After a painful divorce and left with large mortgage payments, I asked this 'nice' lady from church if she wanted a roommate. She had gone on a weekend trip and while gone her apartment was broken into and everything taken or destroyed (even her clothes). When I sold the house, we continued to be roommates. It has been 11 years now. Although we spend our social time with a seperate group of friends, we are still very close. This relationship has grown as we continue to help each other in any way we can. Denise would give me the shirt off of her back if asked. I would have to think about it if the tables were turned. :-D

I have a best friend named Tonya. She knows me better than my own blood sisters and brothers. We became very close friends after she lost her newborn son as she and her husband held him together. Because of our friendship many have tried to explain it by giving us nicknames such as, Mary and Martha, Paul and Silas, Jonathon and David. The one that stuck is Salt and Pepper. Someone said we bring spice to every situation. Guess who is salt. We minister together. We cry together. We travel together. I have sat in the hospital as she battled illness. She has verbally fought for me. We council each other. We pray for each other. We even feel when the other one is upset or sick. Our friendship is very rare. One author called a friendship like ours, soul-friends. Because of our friendship, we both have grown as a result of our friendship spiritually, emotionally, and cognitively. We even have clothes alike that we bought without the presence of each other. I couldn't make this up.

Both of these relationships are important to me and can be challenging at times. As a friend to both, sometimes I must overlook my thoughts or feelings on an idea or event in order to make the other comfortable or happy. For instance, at our national church conventions I want to talk to everyone I can on the first day. Tonya feels she has all week to see people so she goes to the room while we are on a recess. Every year we fight over which we are doing, meeting and greeting or going to the room. I recently learned that something from her childhood was the reason she didn't like meeting and greeting. I wouldn't have known this without communicating or observing my friend.

Denise and I are partners financially because we split the bills or take responsibilty of certain bills. This must be done through collaboration. Tonya and I are partners financially, spiritually, and professionally. Since becoming friends we have incorporated 2 nonprofit companies, started a women's annual conference, become Bible college professors and board members, as well as an international ministering team.

Learning to compromise in order to accomplish tasks with my friends has given me experience when working with my customers as an administrater of a day care. However, the knowledge I have aquired through these relationships will also give me experience as an EC professional working with children and their parents. As with the friendships when I had to disgard my desires in order to help them, I have the understanding that I must understand that my desires are not always the best as I collaborate with others.