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Australian early childhood is at a pivotal point. For the first time in many years there is some recognition at federal government level of the importance of early childhood. For the first time in many years I have a feeling our voices are being heard. Change is in the air.
But with the heady excitement that comes with new ideas and new services comes a responsibility to ensure that we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. We can not get carried away with possibilities and ideas and lose our grounding. Our professionalism requires that we continue to reflect on what we know, continue to search for new information and be prepared to actively seek out that which contradicts our most closely held beliefs. Our journal regularly provides us with lots of 'fodder' for our thinking, and challenges to prompt us to examine our beliefs and the things we take for granted. That is, after all, the role of a high quality academic, professional journal. This edition is no exception.
Starting with the challenges we have Rietveld who argues that inclusion is not a feature of the child as might commonly be thought, but of the context. Her stories of inclusion/exclusion highlight the importance of people in creating quality environments and shaping children's experiences. Surtees continues the challenge. She argues that many early childhood educators tend to perceive sexuality as one of the more difficult forms of difference to address with children, and, as a consequence, unintentionally reinforce the prevailing discourse of heteronormativity.
One of our closely held beliefs is the importance of children's involvement in the outdoor world. For many, connectedness to the natural world is an important component in creating a quality lifestyle. Tarr introduces us to a child care setting where there is no outdoor space, then demonstrates how the use of art-based pedagogies can be used to help children (and teachers) develop an understanding of, and an interest in, the natural world. Smith also provides a challenge to one of our closely held beliefs. Early childhood is based on the notions of play and children's initiation of play. However, this study argues the wide-ranging benefits of early formal music education. Part of that music education is music literacy. In her study, Streelasky looks at a range of literacies and how children's literacy skills are enhanced when families are involved. The valuing of family literacies is shown to enhance the teachers' understanding of multiple literacies (particularly Aboriginal literacies), creating a more effective learning context for children.
Whitehead exposes us to a fascinating glimpse of Australian early childhood history through her analysis of the contribution of Lillian de Lissa. The timing of this article is particularly appropriate given our need to think clearly about the future directions of early childhood in Australia. She talks about the underpinning beliefs that still strongly influence early childhood today, not just in Australia but around the world. I wonder what de Lissa would think of our early childhood provision today? Would she see, for example, the large increase in corporate child care as beneficial to families and communities? Harris suggests that, for families in Townsville, this is not perceived as universally advantageous. What would she think of the proposed provision of a universal, full-time prep year for children aged 4.5 to 5.5 years in Queensland? The parents interviewed in O'Gorman's study seemed to think that this both benefited children here and now, and in the future (through enhanced chances of school success), as well as made life easier for them as parents.
Enjoy this latest edition of AJEC. We truly have a high quality academic, professional journal—one that we value. In fact, the recent draft Research Journal Ranking List released by the Australian Research Council rates our journal as an A* publication – the highest esteem possible. Our journal reflects our profession. We may not be recognised universally as a high status occupation, but all of us in early childhood know that we will continue to act in ways that reflect the highest possible quality. Happy reading and reflecting.
Margaret Sims
Edith Cowan University
Australian Journal of Early Childhood – Volume 33 No 3 September 2008, p. ii.
Don't forget, Australian Journal of Early Childhood is tax deductible for early childhood professionals
You can purchase this issue of the Australian Journal of Early Childhood now.
AJEC is changing its name ...
To reflect its diverse readership and commitment to international early childhood debate,
the Australian Journal of Early Childhood will soon be changing its name to
the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. Follow the link to learn more. |
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