The AJEC Committee invites readers' thoughts on the matters raised in this editorial, as well as elsewhere within the journal. Letters to the editor, enquiries, comments, submissions and contributions can be sent to publishing@earlychildhood.org.au.
2005 marks the thirtieth year of publication for the Australian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC)—a significant achievement! With this first issue of the year, the AJEC Committee would like to take the opportunity to express some of its New Year introspection to the readership. While AJEC, and before it the Australian Pre-School Quarterly (1960–1974), has been Early Childhood Australia's flagship publication in its role as a non-profit, peak advocacy organisation for the early childhood field, there remains a number of possibilities to widen the discourse of research and scholarly debate which AJEC seeks to promote and disseminate.
We begin by outlining two goals: first, the issue of ‘internationalisation' is at the forefront of our thoughts for the future of AJEC; second, the inclusion and acceptance of what could be termed more non-conventional articles is also a possible new focus. Both these goals are fundamentally grounded in the notion of ‘inclusivity'—reflecting both our aim of remaining relevant and useful to those in the early childhood field, as well as continually seeking to extend the professional dialogue of AJEC to other communities, regions, countries and cultures.
We would like to clarify that AJEC doesn't merely publish primary research articles or, indeed, research articles alone. We aim to incorporate articles which not only reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the early childhood field, but also acknowledge different perspectives and methodologies of early childhood education and care. Such non-conventional articles may be ‘practitioner/educator voice', ‘research notes', ‘theorising in progress', ‘pictorial and narrative papers' etc. The AJEC Committee also encourages letters to the editor, through which we can reinforce the idea of AJEC as a forum for professional dialogue and debate.
By accepting non-conventional forms of articles we hope to firstly encourage those who are either uncomfortable or less interested in writing in what some may consider to be a rigid, less accessible style; and secondly, in publishing such articles, authenticate their worth and usefulness to a diverse readership. Above all, we wish to ensure that all articles are of a high standard and serve as a worthwhile addition to the field—whether that be through sharing an innovative approach; imparting new, essential information; or opening up debate and encouraging the critical exchange of ideas. The AJEC Committee feels that it is important to stress that the focus is on an article's merit in regard to promoting ‘research and scholarly debate', rather than on the form/structure it takes.
The question of the ‘internationalisation' of AJEC—particularly in regard to the notion of ‘inclusivity'—is more problematic. If AJEC is to expand its role beyond the limitation implied by the Australian Journal of Early Childhood, there are a number of decisions that need to take precedence. For example, where should the first stage of internationalisation begin: the greater Pacific region; South-East Asia; or beyond? What is our responsibility to represent uniquely Australian (if such a thing does indeed exist) perspectives and issues in the early childhood field? To what extent, if any, should we retain a focus on the Australasian region, without neglecting the significance of other areas? That said, it seems appropriate to raise the issue of the journal's title: does ‘Australian Journal of Early Childhood' continue to represent the scope, direction … is it still relevant, 30 years on?
We are well aware of the proliferation and, perhaps, over-representation of occidental paradigms. Undoubtedly, one of our aims is to include perspectives from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South America to broaden and enrich our more commonly presented Australian, European and North American perspectives. Such an acknowledgement implies leaning towards a decentring notion; we wish to embrace new ideas, new voices. And it is essential that these perspectives be embedded within rather than merely ‘added'. Therefore, any progression towards internationalisation must reflect a relationship that exists as a dialogue, rather than simply relying on the imposition of our views upon a wider readership.
The inclusion of non-conventional articles highlights the fact that significant contributions can be made through a variety of methods. Similarly, internationalisation seeks to emphasise the importance of not only increasing the circulation of articles which are currently published but also acknowledging and welcoming perspectives from other contexts. Through these two related goals, we hope to widen the boundaries of the articles and expand the scope of the publication itself. However, both goals stem from AJEC's function and vision: to disseminate quality information amongst the early childhood field and to engage and sustain its readers in a discourse which is relevant to them.
The AJEC Committee:
Lennie Barblett, Heather Conroy, Lyn Fasoli, Marilyn Fleer, Susan Grieshaber, Fay Hadley, Narelle Hargreaves, Chris Kilham, David Kingwell, Linda Keesing-Styles, Tracey Simpson, Margaret Sims, Pam Winter
AJEC Volume 30 No 1 March 2005
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