The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides the Code of Ethical Conduct to basically serve as a guideline for any individual who works within an early childhood setting or with young children. The code is broken into four sections:
1. Ethical Responsibilities to Children
2. Ethical Responsibilities to Families
3. Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues
4. Ethical Responsibilities to Community and Society.
Each section has a set of ideals, which reflect the aspirations of practitioners, and a set of principles, which describes practices that are required, prohibited, or permitted.
For this week’s assignment, we were tasked with choosing three ideals that are meaningful to us. A lot of the ideals, especially those dealing with children, are meaningful to me. However, these are the three that stood out the most…
Section 1 – Responsibilities to Children
· I-1.3 – To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child. – This ideal is important to me because every child is different. Just because a child doesn’t understand a concept as fast as everyone else, doesn’t mean that the child is not capable. That child is just on another level and is probably much better at something else. Every child has the potential to be something spectacular. If adults ignore that fact and treat children without respect by ignoring the positives, then they are setting the child up for failure. We should recognize all of the positive things that children do and help them see their potential. This helps build confidence so one day they will reach their potential and quite possibly go beyond what we thought they were capable of.
Section 2 – Responsibilities to Families
· I-2.7 – To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession. – It is important to keep families informed on their child’s progress. It is also important to let the families know what is being done in the classroom. Curriculums and teaching practices have evolved over the years, so parents need to be updated on the new strategies and techniques as well. By educating the parents they will have an understanding and respect for what and how we do our jobs. Families should also be kept informed about the current issues in the early childhood field. They have a voice as well and are able to advocate for their children just like us.
Section 3 – Responsibilities to Colleagues
· I-3A.2 – To share resources with co-workers, collaborating to ensure that the best possible early childhood care and education program is provided. – This ideal was meaningful because although I’m working with my colleague, it is all to essentially help the child. We are collaborating to develop programs and activities that are best for the children. That is why we are in this field. We are working to help children be successful in life.
Ms. Ryan,
ReplyDeleteUnique is the only word to describe a child. The dictionary says one of a kind, having no like or equal. That is the way God made each one of us. We are all unique and special in His eyes, now our job is to help adults understand that the child is his own, his unique self with characteristics only he has. Each child has a oneness with other children and he has his own special self that cannot be taken from him, or at least should not.
Thank you for sharing your post.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a great point that where a child lacks skills, he or she will excel in another area! This is a very important thought for professionals to remember. I also think you bring up a great point regarding working together as a team to serve young children, we can not conquer this field alone, we must reach out and be willing to both teach and learn.
Ms. Ryan, this ideal is especially meaningful to me in that I know that children are our future. I agree with you that we should recognize all of the positive things that children do and help them see their potential. Postive words will help encourage them to be the best that they can be. Good ideal!
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said for I-1.3, That child is just on another level and is probably much better at something else. Every child has the potential to be something spectacular. This is something I have to keep putting in my mind because of my own son, his writing is not perfect "not to level" but his reading is way above average.
ReplyDeleteGood post