Childhood Poverty Research and Policy

"4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions.⁹  Both the absolute numbers and proportion of children living in poverty have declined over the 1990s. Education and health levels in China are higher than in many countries with equivalent incomes  - life expectancy at birth is 71 years, and 85 per cent of the population aged over 15 are literate. However, improvements in these areas have slowed down over the 1990s and there are major regional differences. For example, in 1999 the national child mortality rate was 32 per thousand but 47.9 in the West.¹⁰  While 80 per cent of Western Chinese children complete primary school, this is 9 per cent fewer than the national average and 15 per cent fewer than in Eastern China. Recent studies suggest that the health and education reforms are reducing poor families' ability to make use of these vital services. For example, one study in Beijing, China's richest city, found that 75 of poor families could not afford all children's education costs such as tuition fees and stationery costs, while 50 per cent of poor families in Shanghai had no medical insurance because they could not afford it.¹¹ "

This information is found at the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy website.  What stands out to me is that China's poor were getting wealthier after the fall of communism in their country and have began to level off in recent years or decline. The statistic of China's richest city, Beijing and it's peoples inability to afford vital education services makes me question their education system. Do they have a free public education system like we do here in America or are they all privately funded. Which makes me think of the current debate among Democrats and Republicans here in America over public versus privately funded education. Which is better for the people? Which will create a better education system, with less political action?

Children's Defense Fund

Check Out: Children's Defense Fund!

Some of their top policy priorities are: (click on them, they are links!)
Full-Day Kindergarten
Home Visiting Programs
Head Start and Early Head Start
Child Care and Development Block Grant
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
Early Learning Challenge Fund
Advocate & Family Resources
Legislative Update
Promising Approaches

"Investments in early childhood are vital to the success of our nation's youth. Extensive research has shown that early childhood programs significantly increase a child's chances of avoiding the prison pipeline. Furthermore, these programs have well-documented economic and societal value. Studies have shown that investments in quality early education can produce a rate of return to society significantly higher than returns to most stock market investments or traditional economic development projects.

Despite these encouraging reports, thousands of children across the country are still waiting for the chance to participate in quality early childhood programs. CDF fully understands the need for consistent, quality education and care beginning at birth. Our nation simply can’t afford not to significantly increase investments in early childhood development and care, or to keep leaving so many poor babies and toddlers behind."

Reaching Out

Oh My! It is so nerve racking to put yourself out there and reach out to a complete stranger!

This week the assignment is to reach out to another early childhood educator in a different country. The hope is to develop a relationship where we can hold a conversation about current issues and trends in early childhood where ever we are.

Below I would like to include both how I found my contacts and what I decided to write in that first nerve racking email.

I found my first contact through the European Early Childhood Education Research Association. Specifically through one of their special interest groups that meets to discuss equity and respect for diversity. I thought Dr. Rose Drury may be interested in talking with me about the current issues and trends we are both facing in ECE.

My second contact was made through The British Association for Early Childhood Education. Also through a interest group, the London branch, I found the chairperson, Catherine Morris. My hope is that she will also be interested in talking with me.

So now for the hard part....What did I write to introduce myself?

"Hello Dr. Rose,

My name is Whitney Drew and I am a student at Walden University in the United States. As part of our course materials for EDUC-6162-6 Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education we are asked to develop a relationship with an early childhood educator in another country. Basically it is an ongoing, short,weekly conversation about our experiences in early childhood education issues and how the are different and similar. If you would be interested in working with me please respond as soon as possible. The course is only an 8 week course, correspondence would begin next week.

If you cannot participate please consider if you know of any other early childhood educators that would be willing.

Thank you for your time.

~Whitney Drew
whitney.drew@waldenu.edu

If you have any questions concerning the validity of this assignment please contact my professor Dr. Sylvia Klein at sylvia.klein@waldenu.edu. "

My Supports

There are certain things I don't think I could live without. Here are a few:

• Lists - I love them. No, I NEED them! I make lists of what I need to do, what I am going to do, what I have done, things I need to buy, the order in which I am going to clean...
• Pets - They are my constant comfort.
• A Clean Space - Although, as I sit here now, my apartment is far from clean, I usually work better in a clean space. It just frees up my mind to focus on other more important things in my life.
• Bathtub - When you have a bad day at school, nothing makes it better like a warm bath.
• Family & Friends - Which I think goes without saying. Everyone needs socioemotional support.
  

If I lost my job today I would rely on my family and friends to help me pull myself together emotionally. Then I would make a list of everything I needed to do. Resumes to rebuild, bill collectors to call, and the networks I would need to contact. I would then draw a warm bath and while soaking I would talk to my cat who sits on the edge of my tub. If I didn't have the supports and comforts I do now I would like to think I could manage in a stressful situation, but it wouldn't be nearly as easy.

PLAY

I grew up with an older brother. He is six years older than me and was never home when I was. He stayed at his dad's on the weekends and pretty much didn't want to hang out with his baby sister. So I played by myself or had friends over. My mom would send me outside almost every day. Since we didn't have a play set or concrete for a hoop I had to make up my own games. I would take my imaginary friends on nature walks (or my real friends, if they happened to come over that day). I grew up in North Central Florida with all of the old oak trees. They lined our front yard until I was in high school. Each tree was huge and covered in Spanish moss. The palms and shrubs below would cover the ground. We also had a hickory tree and sweet honeysuckle for me to identify and play with. I would pick the blossom off of the honeysuckle and carefully remove the stamen to suck the sweet nectar out. When I went over to my best friends house growing up we would play in her sinkhole. I know what you are thinking, who in their right mind would let to little girls play in a sinkhole!? Isn't that dangerous!? Well, if you grew up in Florida you know which sinkholes are stable and which ones are active. The one in her backyard was stable and not sinking anymore. It was FULL of palms and brush. Her brother was the same age as my brother and I remember having water ballon wars among the shrubs. I don't have a picture of her sinkhole, but I do of another Florida sinkhole. Her's didn't have this much water in it, unless it rained a lot that year.When I did play inside it was mostly with normal "girl" toys. Polly Pockets, Barbies, Play-Dough, Little People, and American Dolls were just a few of the things I liked to play with. Now my play is a little different. I like to play board games with friends or play with my kitten who will fetch a marshmallow like it's no one's business!