This week at walden we had to share at least three (3) new insights or ideas that we gained about early childhood systems around the globe. The site that I explored for this purpose is Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child. And you can explore the site yourself if you go to developingchild.harvard.edu and find the link for global initiatives.
The new insights/ideas and information I have gained this week are:
(1) If you have no understanding about the EC field, and have never ever worked with children in any shape or form there is no way that any business executive, civic leader, or practicitioner should even try to develop any policy in any country for something they have no experience in. Leave that to educators and fighters for children's rights.
(2) A child's mental health plays one hell of a role in what education he or she can recieve. And this is true no matter what country or ethnic background you come from. And I don't care how much information you try to shove down a child's throat, if you don't make provisions to ensure the family is "healthy" (medical coverage, not living in poverty, good support systems..etc), it will almost be in vain to apply these new teaching initiative to make our children "smarter". If the brain isn't ready or wanting you have to fix the initial problem first!
(3) The best possible way to help a child is to apply policy, practice and science, not just some random new ideas that some board executive came up with to save money in the long run or a government official came up with to get some extra votes. But if we adapt all three concepts the well being of the child is greatly increased!
