Our Proud Heritage. Can We Change Early Care and Education?
By: Edna Runnels Rancks
This article is an overview of the earliest beginning of early childhood education, how maternalism and women in the workforce have an uneasy coexistence and the evolution of short-term solutions and long-terms misconceptions have all affected early child care in some type of way. A major figure from Western Europe by the name of John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) who was the first to form foundation for early child care. He preached and taught in his day and also wrote about universal education throughout his majority of his life. In 1633, he provided “The School of Infancy” a curriculum from ages of birth to 6, whom could be taught by the mother or any other adult in the household. The article also discusses how nursery school finally come about in the early 20th century here in the United States for the ages of 3 and 4 year-olds. (Ranck, 2020) Susan Blow and Patty Smith Hill were the two major figures that influenced the evolution of kindergarten in the early part of the 20th century here in the United States (Lascarides & Hinitiz, 2000). Unfortunately, due to tuition fees and nursery schools, the nurseries and child care facilities were based off income, so families were then separated not only because of their income but also their race. There’s no surprise to what trend caught my attention while reading through this article. Segregating families by income and race is still alive today unfortunately. No matter how many educators try to prepare to educate and care for young children, there are always obstacles that will get in their way to do so.
Reference
Ranck, E. (Dec. 2020). Our Proud Heritage. Can We Change Early Care and Education? https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/dec2020/change-early-education
Lascarides, V. C. & B. F. Hinitz. 2000. History of Early Childhood Education. New York: Falmer Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Early Childhood Studies 