I started
advocating for children and families when I noticed the level of quality that
children were receiving varied across the board. Some teachers really went out of their way to
ensure that children received the best early education experiences, others just
showed up for the pay check. The
teachers that were more vested in their classroom, children and the curriculum
had more knowledge of child development and an understanding of the issues that
children and families face. They were
passionate, attentive and wanted to see children get the most out of their
experiences. They knew how to focus on
the individual child as well as the classroom as a whole to scaffold learning
and assess how and if children were progressing. This is the type of teacher that I was and I
expect no less from those who work in the field. Knowing the level of differences in the
quality that teachers provide, I want to find a way to ensure that teachers
understand the needs of the children and families they serve and know how to
connect families to the child’s educational experiences.
Advocacy
can be an extensive process. It starts
with one person who wants to implement change to benefit children and families
in their environment. This can lead to
understanding how services can impact children and families in a broader
context. It is important to acknowledge
all efforts to improve the quality of services for children and families
because not every issue is known to the public.
To be a community leader on early childhood issues, you have to have
knowledge of the issues and want to initiate change for children and
families. Having passion and commitment
about early childhood issues is also essential.
Becoming educated on the issue, researching the issues and being a part
of a community to want to elicit change is what it takes to be a community
leader.
In
order to be a state leader on early childhood issues, it takes being elected by
the public “to represent the ideas and interests of their communities;
therefore the public has the right and the responsibility not only to know
their elected officials’ position on pending policy legislation but also to
communicate their ideas, therefore influencing the way they are represented”
(Kieff, 2009). Money is the main
resource that a state leader needs to advocate for issues in the community and
is in a position to pool other resources and work with organizations to bring
light to early education concerns.
Helping others understand the importance of these issues by passing on
information and having real life situations that people can relate to helps
others get involved. Understanding the
concerns of stakeholders and being able to connect the concerns to the
appropriate individuals.
Building
relationships to connect with others who have the same passion and establishing
strong open communication with those involved in the advocacy efforts. It is important that the messages are the
same between advocates and so everyone is on the same page and makes the
message that much stronger when it is supported by everyone involved!
