Since before the Enlightenment, people have been philosophising about how best to educate children. Now a new book co-edited by the Faculty of Education’s Sandy Farquhar offers critical insight into current issues affecting early childhood education.
In developed countries around the world, governments are encouraging women to return to work, creating an increased demand for quality early childhood services. But what is best for women, children and families?
Philosophy of Early Childhood Education - Transforming Narratives, edited by Sandy Farquhar and Peter Fitzsimons, offers an original analysis of some competing and conflicting theories of early childhood education. This is important in a society where intensive government involvement suggests that the field of early childhood education has taken on a greater social, political, and economic importance.
This international publication contains peer-reviewed articles from a diverse range of leading educators in New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Great Britain, Finland, Sweden and France. Though they are from vastly different geographic locations, what contributors have in common is the desire to question what counts as received wisdom in childhood education theory and practice, and a preference to acknowledge the complex and unique creations that are our children.
As of 2012 all early childhood educators in New Zealand will need to hold a formal qualification and be registered. Sandy agrees that while this is an important benchmark to reach, she believes we need to think about the best way to structure early childhood policy and funding to provide the best possible early childhood experience.
"We have brought together some deep thinking at a philosophical and policy level about what children and families need," says Sandy, "because presently the real push is coming from market-driven forces instead of what is best for the people concerned."
Sandy is a senior lecturer in the School of Teaching, Learning and Development at the Faculty of Education where she teaches undergraduate and masters papers on early childhood curriculum and pedagogy. Her current research examines the relationship between narrative identity and early childhood. Peter Fitzsimons is an independent researcher who completed his doctorate at The University of Auckland two years ago. He is Associate Editor of Educational Philosophy and Theory and works as an educational management consultant.
Philosophy of Early Childhood Education - Transforming Narratives is $57.99 from the University Bookshop.
