Quotes from Early Childhood Passionates

“We don't think about child care properly. We continue to think about it as a service that lets mothers and fathers go to work, which of course it is, so it's easy to think about it that way. But it's also the environment that determines a considerable part of the growth and development of children. And once you start thinking about it that way it's a different ball game.”

Edward Zigler, Phd. ( Edward Zigler – The Progressive Interview, June, 2002, by Ruth Conniff)

“Head Start is less a static program than evolving concept, constantly in need of evaluation.” Edward Zigler, Phd. (Zigler, Edward, Assessing Head start at 20: An Invited Commentary. Pediactrics, 55, 603)

“…the power of the baby as a shaper of early parent-infant interaction.” T. Berry Brazelton(Introduction, Organization and Stability of Newborn Behavior: A Commentary on the Brazelton Neonatal behavior Assessment Scale (1978) p. 1 Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development  Vol. 43, No. 5/6)

“A newborn already has nine months of experience when she is born. She is capable of controlling her behavior in order to respond to her new environment.” T. Berry Brazelton (Understanding the Baby’s Language, The Brazelton Institute http://www.brazelton-institute.com)

“I hate the waste.”

“The passion to create a safer, more just world for all kids, I suppose will be there till I die, perhaps even after.”

Louise Dermon Sparks, Professor Emeritas, Pacific Oak College, CA (Passion for Early Childhood, video WAL_EDUC6005_02_A_EN-C)

“What keeps me engaged is that we are not there yet.” Renatta M. Cooper, Program Specialist, Office of Child Care, LA county Chief Administrative Office(Passion for Early Childhood, video WAL_E

Personal Childhood Web

PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB

The first and most important person on my web is my Father. He was 48 when I was born but still full of energy and vigor. I was his side kick. We spent much time in outdoor activities. When engaged in seeming huge tasks, at least to a little girl, he would break it into doable pieces by saying that each part I did was one less he had to do. He took me to his office, on errands, on road trips always engaging me in relevant as well as silly conversation. Mu father passed on a fascination for new ideas, words, and rhythmic music.  He died when I was 14 and I remember thinking my only friend was gone. However, he put in me a step by step approach to life, a love of the outdoors and work, and a knowing that I was the most important person in his life and that he would be there for me no matter what. At 57, I still carry that confidence.

The second person would be his sister, my Aunt Mary. Because I came along when Canada was well recovered from WW2 and the middle class was a comfortable place to be, there was more time for reading to and with, coloring, sharing ideas with children. Aunt Mary did that for me and led me to books that would let me escape from the tensions in my home.

Barbara is my sister, 11 years my senior. She says she thought I was her baby. She is physically beautiful, able to create awesome works from food, to clothing, to handwork and is an excellent Operating Room Nurse. I was so proud to be her little sister and was often paraded around in matching outfits she made me. Still today she looks out for me like a big sister. A few years back, I was having conflict with a colleague in the work place. I had not planned to go home for Christmas but so strongly needed to be with someone who loved me no matter what.

The next is not a person but our neighborhood. It was full of gardens, orchards, open fields, familiar paths, and backyards that I was always welcomed on as the ‘little Holliday girl’. This was space for exploring, building friendship, escaping from my mother. This freedom, space and familiarity feel like a friend of my childhood. It was a place I belonged.

Mrs. Balser was a rotund lady who made the best desserts and welcomed everyone to church with the warmth that I imagined a grandparent would have. She helped me belong in a place that I constantly questioned.

Lastly, I must mention my Grade 3 teacher, Miss Larson. She was so lovely and soft spoken and didn’t know my big sister or my family. She saw me. She nourished my love for words, reading and writing. She gave me a book for some reward called ‘Nobody Loves Me’(Mrs. O.F.Walton, Lamplighter Publishing).I don’t believe, I still have it but it was in my library, read and reread and simply remembered for many years.

Personal Childhood Web

Post WW2 Canada                                               Strong Health Care

Maternal aunts and uncles                 family doctor who made house calls

                          Miss Larson                Mrs. Balser

                       Neighborhood                  Primary School                  Eatons

                                                        Bobbie           Father                                 father’s work

                                   Barbara                       church/SundaySchool

                                                           Aunt Mary   

Small bedroom community                                              60’s TV                    

Strong Social System                                                Strong WASP community   

Hello Group 3 Bloggers

Dr. Maria Montessori said, "Our aim is not only to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core."

This accompanies into my Nursery classroom of 1-2.5 year olds each morning.  Dr. Montessori was from an earlier time and perhaps some of her expressions are not so politically correct now. She likened our perspective of a child, to that of the Madonna holding the Christ-child. However, unacceptable that may be to hear, the truth still remains that there is more potential in each child than we can imagine. It must  be protected, nourished and given space to grow.

I am single and live in Beijing. I have been in China for 11 years, the last 6 here. One of my assistants took this picture today by our class window.

I am from New Brunswick, Canada and  did not come to China until I was 45 year. My Dad died when I was quite young and for whatever reason, I took it on my myself to look after my Mother and the estate. So when I finally came here to live my dream,  a shock wave went through my community. I have not regretted a moment.

Now comes my favourite part of this assignment, books. Watching my students interact with books is one of the best parts of my job. The one I would single out is, 'Hug' by Jez Alborough published by Candlewick. There are only few words but it is packed with feelings allowing the words to clearly stand out. It is about a 'monkey' as my students quickly and happily point out, who cannot find his Mother. There is great jubilation when he does the book ends with group hugs all around. This is the book more than any other that the students will take from me and reread themselves, putting the words and emotions correctly. I know they are not reading, but they are practicing sequencing and noticing the words that go with the pictures.

Well, we are in our second week. I am happy to have met you even briefly and I look forward to rewarding days ahead.
Bobbie