Historical Influences on Early Childhood Education

ECE104 Foundation of ECE

Why do we care?
Historical events and social times

influence our values Political trends provoke a reaction from the social group In turn, influences how are children are raised and valued Current trends and practices are often rooted by some past practice (rediscovery)

Differing cultures
Some understanding of diverse

cultures help us as educators to better understand an American perspective on children

What does this mean?

Remember
We often take what we hold to be

true as the only truth

In fact, there can be many right

ways to do things
Dependent upon values, personal

history, present conditions

Do you value this?

Early attainment of individuality

and independence

Do you value this?

Early attainment of individuality

and independence
Western European value but not

for those groups whose society promotes group harmony and interdependence

Do you value this?

Early and free exploration

Do you value this?

Early and free exploration This value is not held in

societies where children are held close, carrying them while they work; often poor, developing areas

Do you value this?

Importance of early stimulation

of intellect and language

Do you value this?

Importance of early stimulation

of intellect and language Push down education that has increased focus on academic and intellectual standards with little discussion on developmental domains in the early years

How and when?

Every society has the task of

socializing and educating its children, but how and when it is done, is very dependent upon the values and resources available.

What is early childhood? (AKA Early care and education)

Children ages birth through age 8

In group settings:
1. Infant and toddler rooms 2. Preschools and nursery schools 3. Kindergarten 4. Grades 1-3

5. Before and after school programs

 In early childhood, we are often

the bridge between the childs two worlds: Home and school (group setting)
Foundation for future learning

(Building Block years)

Ancient Times
Definition of early childhood varies

throughout time Often considered adults by age 7 Education started at home Schooling provided to wealthy boys Girls and working class taught domestic work

Plato and Aristotle

While education was beginning around 6

or 7, Plato and Aristotle thought education needed to be younger Romans felt education needed to be at home when started to talk Highlighted the use of rewards and ineffectiveness of corporal punishment

Ancient Greeks and Romans

Time of first schools outside of the

home Plato (427 B.C.) and Aristotle (384323B.C.) founded schools using small group tutoring Taught wealthy boys thinking skills, governing, military strategy and commerce

400-1200 A.D.
Roman Empire fell apart

Childhood barely lasted past infancy

Education become responsibility of

parents but.. Parents focused on survival Childhood not seen as a separate time of life Children needed to get into labor force to contribute to family Schools ceased to exist

Before 15th Century

No educational system

Church in control in the medieval period

Children viewed as evil and needed to

be prepared for the afterlife Children needed to be directed, punished and corrected Children expected to move quickly into adulthood

European Renaissance and Reformation 1400-1600

Life was getting easier

Humanists educators advocated for

basic education for girls and the poor Children were viewed as good Printing press invented which allowed for books to be available to the common person This period brought to us the idea of universal education and literacy

1500s
Taught reading, writing, arithmetic and

book keeping became common through out Europe As living conditions improved, children lived longer Came to understand that the educated child could help improve the family conditions but.. Families needed help in educating their children

Modern Times
John Amos Comenius (1592-

1670)
Books with illustrations Teachers should follow childs own

timetable Learning by doing, using the senses, make exciting Social reform: educate poor and

John Locke 1632-1714)

Tabula rasa (clean slate)

Education needed to take into

account individual differences Goal was to make a reasoning creature so able to conduct business Instruction be playful and pleasant as well as drills

Jean Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778

Children naturally good

Use of concrete materials

Children learn from first hand

information Phases of development of a childs mind Education should match level of development Influenced future educators such as

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi 1746-1827

More pragmatic: teach basic skills

Caring as well as educating

Integrated curriculum to educate the

whole child Teaching in groups rather than with tutors (Rousseau)

Friedrich Froebel 1782-1852

Father of the kindergarten

Early childhood should be pleasant

Children should be able to play

With trained teachers

Maria Montessori 1870-1952

First female physician in Italy

Worked with poor and retarded

children Education begins at birth Children pass through sensitive periods Sequential steps of learning

Rudolph Steiner 1861-1925

Establishment of Waldorf Schools

Carefully planned and nurturing

environment Different areas of development connected Play is important

Other influences from around the world

Besides the European influences, there

have been other influences in our educating of young Japan and China: harmony, children good and worth of respect Native Americans: interconnectedness between families and people and nature Africa: pool resources for common good Latin America and Hispanic: value children; cooperation; sensitivity to

American Influences
Colonial times: children sent to school for

religious reasons High death rate during starving season (60-70% under 4) Little overt affection Children were economic tools In the South, tutors to teach sons to read and write Post Revolutionary War, no move towards education until late 1800s because focus on growing crops and pioneering future During Industrial Revolution, manual labor and

African Americans
Prior to Civil War, limited opportunities for African

Americans to attend school Babies and pregnant women treated well because of their economic value Laws prohibiting the teaching of slaves; seen as threatening Post Civil War, first education of Blacks but often on a quota system and may be excluded

John Dewey 1858-1952

Big influence on current teaching

practices Education should be integrated into with life and support living in society (learning and living inseparable) Children were naturally good School focus on ALL the basics not just a few

Moving forward
There are many modern influences on

current education that will be explored throughout the semester

Rarely is position on education new; it is

often a recycle or reforming of a philosophy from the past the is currently adopted as best practice for the current times