Sharing My Web Resources

                                                          By Lisa Martin

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) website provides me with a wealth of relevant information pertaining to education around the globe. Recently, I was pleased to see the world adopting a we are all in this together attitude regarding education as the  Director-General of UNESCO called for world leaders to unite for education for all, and Finland quickly donated two and a half million Euros. It is only through this type of global initiative and commitment that we can see the rights of every young child to a quality education realized. Another item that caught my attention, as I had recently written about it in regards to gender diversity and anti-bias, was an event to fight homophobia in educational settings. I started to compare the life of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teachers and students with the LGBT military members and thinking there should be a way to allow teachers and students to be themselves inside the classroom. I can only imagine the stress, and inner turmoil caused by having to hide who you are in some cases while taking part in such an important part of your life. In education it is not “don’t ask don’t tell” it is more like there is no place for that here.

There was also a report that I correlated to our initiative in the United States to invest in early education as a means of improving our workforce and ability to compete in the global market. The report was based on the interpretation of 600 young people of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report, which they summed up with the slogan “Be Skilled, Be Employed, Be the Change Generation” (UNESCO, 2012). I thought this was rather in keeping with the quest of the economists and business people in the United States, the idea of children being skilled, employable, making for a strong workforce. Knowing the work and objectives of UNESCO, including education equality for girls and women, I felt this approach to be a way of getting more funding and attracting more support; not that I find anything wrong with wanting children to acquire skills and get jobs. It is almost as if science must be validated by big business and finance, thus it comes down to dollar and cents; which I guess is true because the science behind the Apple products would not be so touted if it did not produce billions in revenue. I just view education in a more ideological manner, the idea that all children have access to quality learning and the opportunity to stimulate their minds and develop a hunger and thirst for knowledge through curiosity and inquiry.

This week we have been looking at how economists, neuroscientists, and politicians support the early childhood field, for UNESCO education is always viewed from all three perspectives to promote global change and outreach. They use the science to figure out what must be done, and then they calculate the cost of not making changes as well as the cost of implementing improvements (economics), and present it to the global leaders for support and approval (politics). The UNESCO website continues to offer me new insights and challenges facing the education field.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2012). The 2012 EFA Global Monitoring Report. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/resources/online-materials/single-view/news/three_major_new_education_reports_launched_at_gem/

My International Contacts and Resources

                                                                        By Lisa Martin

I reached out to a few potential conversation partners. I have yet to actually hear from an early education professional in the Netherlands, though I received an initial response saying I would. My pen pal, Delfina Mitchell, Director of the Liberty Children’s Home in Belize, said that her schedule is extremely hectic, but she would try to answer any specific questions I posed to her. I asked her about the aspects of poverty that are the greatest challenge to her work, but she has not responded yet. I have vacationed in Belize and it is one of those beautiful places, where once you leave the main tourist attractions behind you are shocked by the poverty and despair in which some of the people live. “While Belize has achieved significant economic growth in recent years, its progress masks steep economic inequities. In addition to a monetary poverty rate that increased to 41.9% in 2009, there are great economic, spatial, and cultural inequalities” (UNICEF, 2011). It is also a country with a high incidence of violence. Liberty Children’s Home in Belize takes in young children who have been abandoned, abused, and stricken with HIV. Ms. Mitchell is very proud of the work they are doing, but they need more funding. You can visit their website at http://www.libertychildrenbelize.org/ and learn more about the program and make a donation.  

In her podcast, Delfina Mitchell talks about a “nine year old boy, Joseph, who came to them from an abusive home, where in addition to being abused himself, he witnessed the abuse of his siblings. As a result, he did not speak for over a year – a voluntary mute. Within weeks of being nurtured and cared for at Liberty Children’s Home Joseph began to talk” (World Forum Foundation, 2011). I am sure she has hundreds of other stories like this to tell as they continue to help children overcome their rough beginnings.

There seems to be correlations between lack of education and thus opportunity, and substance abuse and violence. Many will argue that these are the things that promote or cause poverty. Whereas, I would argue that it is economic inequality, and the failure of governments to provide safety nets and improve opportunities for their poorest citizens that cause poverty. If the parents had the opportunity to go to school and learn a marketable skill and get a job, they would be less likely to turn to drugs or alcohol, without the addiction they would not resort to violence; without the sense of hopeless despair and anger, they would not resort to abuse. I know I sound like a bleeding heart Liberal government can and should fix everything. I am not and I do not believe government can or should do all things. However, I believe no country, the United States included, can eradicate poverty without a meaningful and focused initiative by the government.

United Nations Children’s Fund. (2012, April, 11^th). Draft country programme document –Belize. Retrieved November 14, 2012 from  http://www.unicef.org/about/execboard/files/2012-PL14-CPD_BELIZE-FINAL_ODS.pdf

World Forum Foundation. (2011). Episode 3: Delfina Mitchell. Retrieved November 2, 2012 from http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio/

 

 

My Global Resource of Choice

                                                          By Lisa Martin

The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is committed to bringing countries together to identify ways to improve education, promote global peace, preserve the environment, and so many other important issues. You can read about their mission and goals at their website http://www.unesco.org/.  I chose UNESCO as a resource because I believe that there are many challenges facing the world and young children that require unified and focused resolutions, which take into consideration all people, and it all starts with education. It has taken us some time to reach the point where we realize education is the key to global economic growth and progress. I read this very interesting article on the UNESCO website regarding the importance of educating children on biodiversity. “Biodiversity is the foundation for healthy ecosystems and sustainable human development. It touches on all aspects of our lives - from our security to our welfare, from our social relations to our health” (UNESCO, 2012). We have been talking about and stressing the importance of teaching children about human diversity, but they also need to be aware of diversity among all living things. The biodiversity component is a part of a much larger initiative concerning education for sustainable development. “Education for Sustainable Development means including key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning; for example, climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, poverty reduction, and sustainable consumption” (UNESCO, 2012).

I believe just as we teach our young children to recycle, we should teach them how to take care of the planet on a whole. We should teach them about the importance of respecting life in all forms and preserving it. One of the primary purposes of education is socialization, creating socially responsible, productive individuals able to contribute to society. In many ways this is one of the major goals of UNESCO to protect the rights of children and families everywhere and contribute to a better quality of life for all, as well as a more productive and sustainable global population.  Although, UNESCO functions on an international stage, I believe some of their core values can assist the United States in dealing with the changing demographics. Ideas like greater intercultural communications and increased teacher training can help us improve our early education system. I recommend you check out the UNESCO website and read their education goals for 2015.

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and cultural Organization. (2012). Biodiversity and education. Retrieved November 8, 2012 from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/special-themes/biodiversity-initiative/biodiversity-education/

EXPANDING MY RESOURCES

                                                                        By Lisa Martin                      

It is important to me that I remain informed of advances and current research in the field of early childhood care and education. It is equally important to me that I am aware of what is happening in the field globally, so I like this new direction my blog will be taking. I am excited about having the opportunity to share information and gain insights from early education professionals from other countries, not that I do not currently have such opportunity with my international classmates at Walden University. I really want to be “pen pals” with a professional from the Netherlands, because of their government’s commitment to early education. “The Netherland government considers child care as an integral and essential part of economic growth” (Neugebauer, 2007, p. 58); a notion the United States seems to be finally adopting. To this end, I contacted UNICEF and asked to be put in contact with an early childhood professional from the Netherlands, and immediately received a response in Dutch – which thanks to Google I quickly translated, stating they will address my request and needed my actual address. I have not heard anything further, but am hopeful I will make contact with a dedicated professional from the Netherlands.

I also emailed Marcelle Delahaye Camping, the CEO and Founder of Liberty Foundation and Delfena Mitchell, the Director of the Liberty Foundation Children’s Home in Belize. This program opened in the summer of 2005 and takes in children who have been abandoned, abused or orphaned and many have disabilities, special needs or are HIV positive, predominantly between birth to 5 years of age. I discovered them at the World Forum website. I received an auto response from Delfena, but nothing more. I also signed up with UNESCO because they do so much for children around the world, and I was interested in following issues and trends on a global level. I will receive weekly updates from them, and be able to share any really interesting or insightful stories with you.

If I do not get a response from the people I reached out to, I will have to use the alternative method of gathering and exchanging, which I would prefer not to.

Reference

Neugebauer, R. (2007). Early childhood trends around the world. Exchange, (175), 58–63.

 

MY SUPPORTS

BY LISA MARTIN

I had to really think about my daily supports. The most obvious one was my husband, who often handles tasks and runs errands for me if I do not have time. He cooks dinner sometimes, picks up the dry cleaning, and remembers things that I somehow forget. Then I considered my staff, my co-workers who contribute to the success of the branch, by collaborating with me to get things done. I have other supports that I rely on daily; among them are my car and money. Both the car and the money allow me to get where I need to be and do what I need to do.  I also rely a great deal on my sister. She serves as a sounding board, confidante, and event and shopping companion.

I remember once my car had to stay at the dealer for repair, and I opted not to take the loaner. I felt confined and at the mercy of others for the weekend without my car. I was restricted in what I could do because of where I could go. Once I gave the entire staff the day off to attend some event, and had to man the office alone. It was challenging and lonely. I got through the day, but I could not imagine running the branch on my own. I also remember going through a sort of withdrawal when my sister was on an extended business trip. I could still call and speak to her, but we could not do anything together. I had to run my Saturday errands alone, go to the mall alone, in the end I spent more time at home for those three months. My husband has never been sick or away on business, so I can only imagine how lost I would be if he were not around.  I would definitely eat a lot more unhealthy crap and sleep poorly.

If I were to choose a challenge or disability to imagine myself having and how this would affect my current supports and force me to rely on new supports, I would select blindness. If I could not see, I would be unable to drive and the lack of freedom I felt that one weekend my car was being repaired would become a constant. My reliance on my husband and sister would greatly increase. The branch would cease to exist for me, as my staff would have a new leader; and the job that plays such a big role in my life and how I view myself and perhaps am viewed would be no more. I am sure I would identify new supports, like audio books or a seeing-eye dog.

I would have to move to a one level, ranch style house, trust someone else to coordinate my outfits, and eat even more of my husband’s cooking. I wonder if I would be able to enjoy my favorite programs and movies when only able to hear them. In the end I believe my husband and my sister would do everything possible to help me enjoy the quality of life I knew before losing my sight. They would do things like find cooking classes for the blind, so I could still cook and bake. My sister would probably organize my closet so I could dress myself, and she would definitely make sure I made it to service every Sunday. On the bright side I would finally have a dog – to which my husband could no longer object.

My Connections to Play

By Lisa Martin

                                                                                       

“Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.”              

                                                         Diane Ackerman

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.”

                                                  Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A child loves his play, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard.”

                                                     Dr. Benjamin Spock



MUD PIE

I cannot begin to tell you how important play was in my childhood. It was a time when we could be free, when the adults weren’t telling you what to do or watching your every move. My grandmother would facilitate our backyard play by giving us old muffin and pie pans in which to make our mud pies. Looking back I cannot believe I used to enjoy digging up dirt; today I have no desire to garden or do anything that involves putting my hands in mud. I guess in childhood we are more uninhibited and rather fearless.

  

I remember my sisters and I would dress up and play house with our dolls pretending our husbands were at work and we were shopping with our babies. Sometimes, we would pretend the baby was sick or we were having a big party. As we got older we traded our baby dolls for Barbie dolls.        

 

We would often take our Barbie Dream House into the front yard and set it up on the cellar door, and all of our friends would come to the yard with their dolls and we would play all day. We would pretend to be teachers, lawyers, doctors, astronauts, you name it we wanted to be it and through our Barbie dolls we were if only for a few hours. We were happy children who laughed and smiled a lot. Today I know that “children who engage in make believe play are more joyful, and smile and laugh more often than those who seem at odds with themselves” (Almon, 2002, p. 4). 

 As I got older into the world of double digits I definitely preferred more physical play. Perhaps, one of the most fun things for me was jumping rope. I was really good at it, and to this day if I see a group of girls playing Double Dutch I always ask for a turn. Unfortunately, I hardly ever see little girls jumping rope anymore, even when I go back to Brooklyn. I totally see why our children are overweight, they do not run, jump, climb or play outdoors nearly as much as we did. I grew up in a time when you went outside and did not come back in the house until the streetlight came on.  

I wish children today knew the joys of stoop ball and stick ball; of double-dutch competitions with their girlfriends – and perhaps a boy or two. The joy of riding  your bikes around the neighborhood together; and in my case, having your uncle teach you to ride on Christmas morning on a playground covered by sheet of ice. Learning to ride my new princess bike on that freezing winter morning was one of the most memorable days of my childhood.

I understand the world is not quite the same as when I was a child, but I feel sorry for children who do not get to roam their neighborhoods and explore their communities, and simply be a child – playing made up games and having fun. Even as teenagers we played touch football and Ring Olivio on our Brooklyn street. To this day, I enjoy my play. I work hard, and nothing makes me feel more relaxed than a game night with friends, or getting out my Super Soaker on a hot summer night for a good water fight with my neighbor’s sons and their friend. I realize that it is my spirit of play that has survived childhood and carried well into middle-age that is responsible for my competitive nature and the self-confidence that makes me successful in the workplace. 

 

Almon, K. (2002). The vital role of play in early childhood education. Gateways, 43. Retrieved                from http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW43almon.pdf

 

 

 

 

Relationship Reflection

My Adult Web

(better known as my support system)

As I write this I am surrounded by my people or ‘peeps’ as I call them. These are the people with whom I have solid, tried and tested relationships; those who have been with me on the mountaintops and in the valleys. It is a small group consisting of my husband, sister, two cousins, two girlfriends and an aunt. I have never been one who thinks we do anything all on our own. I listened to the Republican convention and was amazed at the way they acted as if they lifted themselves up by their bootstraps without any help from anyone. I have achieved a great deal during my lifetime thus far, but not without guidance and inspiration, and sometimes financial help. I have been through some very rough times and again I did not go through them alone. I value the relationships in my life more and more as I get older, and I like to believe that I serve as important a role in the lives of my support network as they do in mine. I am a firm believer like our President that we are better together, looking out for each other.

Let me tell you about my peeps. Someone once said that “A friend is someone who, upon seeing another friend in immense pain, would rather be the one experiencing the pain than to have to watch their friend suffer”, these are the people I am talking about. First there is my husband, this strong, generous and compassionate man who has never let me down – and I am one of those do not put your trust in a man women. We have been married twenty-two years and experienced the type of devastating loss that usually tear couples apart, but they only made us stronger and brought us closer together. Then there is my sister Roz, who is the Thelma to my Louise, the Shirley to my Laverne, with whom I am always on the phone or out gallivanting. She sees the world the way I do, and though we are very different, we are very much the same in the ways that really matter. Then I have my two favorite cousins, who are more like sisters. Together the four of us have done much laughing and crying, but we focus on the laughter. 

Then there are my girlfriends – the main two being Theresa and Veta. Veta was my college roommate, and though we rarely see each other we can pick up the phone and it’s like we just spoke yesterday. Theresa has had a rough past year, but I have tried to be there for her. Did I mention that these strong, successful women are terrific mothers also, and help fill a void in my life, as I share in their children’s lives. My mother died when I was very young and my aunt, who was an important part of my childhood web, continues to fulfill that role for me. It is at her home I spend the holidays, with her I spend Mother’s Day. She is the one that is constantly whispering or shouting I can do whatever I desire to do. She is the one who takes pride in my accomplishments. Whenever I have needed anything I have been able to turn to any of these people, and they have always come through for me.

I used to joke that a relationship was two people waiting for someone better to come along and then I met my husband. I used to wish I was an only child, and then I grew to appreciate my sister.

“Even though we’ve changed and we’re all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we’ll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we’re not all still friends.”  Anonymous