If I were able to conduct research on any topic that I
chose with no limitations of means or knowledge or restrictions by “realities
of the present” that would make a major contribution to children and families,
I would pursue the area of how to best train early childhood professionals in
current, research-based practices and ensure implementation in the
classroom. There is unlimited research
that has been carried out in the area of research-based, best practices for
working with young children and families but it often fails to reach the
classroom level and be implemented into daily practice. There is widespread knowledge that most
programs are not of high-quality. There
is agreement that the futures of children, society and the environment are
contingent upon preparing children to grow up, be capable of making sound
personal and professional decisions. Our
children of today will grow up to take positions of power and authority that
will have a great impact upon the society and the environment in which we all
depend upon to survive.
The
prospects for the future are not promising if we continue on the path we are
currently following in the preparation of our children for their future
endeavors. In order to ensure the
highest level of capability for each and every child we must take the time, provide
the assets, and make the decisions necessary to ensure high-quality programs
for each and every child. A high-quality
program needs to be managed and classrooms staffed by educated and
highly-skilled early childhood practitioners.
There needs to be an accountability system that holds early childhood
programs, practitioners and policy-makers accountability for providing
wide-spread high-quality early care and education for each and every child. There needs to be a way of removing those in
the field that are found to do harm, from practicing with children.
My
positive contribution to the well-being of children and families would be to
research and develop a system of
education, professional development, and
accountability that would ensure
high-quality, knowledgeable practitioners in all early childhood programs (to
include management, teachers and support staff). Early childhood practitioners would possess
the knowledge, the understanding, and the ability to implement research-based,
best-practices within their teaching practices, the classroom environment, and
support to families. All children and
families (not just those who can afford to pay for it) would be assured of
high-quality programs that would foster optimal early learning and development
opportunities. Society and the
environment would benefit from the increased abilities and knowledge of
children who will one day become the adult decision-makers of the world.
