A quote about children that resonates with me and is especially meaningful describes why I do what I do for a profession: "Children are one third of our population and all of our future." Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981.
We not only have a responsibility to our children when we are early childhood providers, we have a responsibility to society. Parents are required to work long hours to provide for their families, thus their children are being cared for by someone other than themselves. We have to keep in mind that these children spend more waking hours with us and approach our jobs not just as teachers but as parents, mentors, and role models. This is a very heavy responsibility but the fact of the matter is love and guidance is what we need to teach in order to create a society of adults that can secure our future.
Hey Susan,
ReplyDeleteI agree we have a lot of responsibility as teachers. We are there parents in the classroom daily. I want my children to succeed and I as a teacher have to committ to helping them achieve their goals. I care about children happiness and well being beyond the classroom and I also notice this past school year children are very responsive to a teacher who cares and is there for them.They are more likely to learn and engage.
Great quote
Vonecia
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI really like your quote. It is so true. One of the things that I tell people when they ask me why I work with young children is that parents give me the greatest responsibility on earth to help mold their children. I see it as an extreme honor and privilege for parents to allow me the opportunity to care for and mold their children. I agree with you that we as professionals in the early childhood field need to take into consideration the job that we are being given.
Susan,
ReplyDeleteI often hear parents lamenting the lack of quality care for their young children, knowing that their little ones do spend so much time of their lives in the care of others. Over-worked, under-paid is a something that applies to so many of the caregivers in preschool and daycare settings. My department at UA does required trainings for child care providers who work for licensed centers. Most trainings at least half the registered participants do not show up. That concerns me for many reasons, buy mainly, how do we get providers and teachers to understand the responsibility they are being given, when they are not being adequately compensated for what they do? Perhaps because I live in a region that has a very large population that live below the poverty level, these issues are more prevalent. Your children and parents are very lucky to have you.
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your quote and as a society, we always have said that the kids are our future. But some adults add to the phrase that if the kids now are the future for tomorrow that this world is going to be in trouble. As parents and childcare providers it is our responsibility to teach our children how to exempify love and respect as well educational and social skills. I have worked with so many young parents that have no parenting skills, I feel that we as educators can help our children by also helping the parents. No, we can't save the world, but we can surely do our part by teaching positivity as often as we can.