The History, Philosophy and Ethics of Early Childhood Education

Examine, interpret, and critique philosophical ideas about how early childhood education has developed over time. Students will focus on the moral complexities that illuminate the dilemmas of everyday life in classrooms. Questions include: What is the purpose of education? What are the roles and responsibilities of a social justice educator? How do the concepts of equity, equality, and access impact students’ learning? How does one develop and demonstrate a moral and ethical code of conduct? Emphasis on constructing ideas and arguments that inform and ethical practice, evolving teaching philosophy, and self-reflection. Students will synthesize changes in early care and education over time including the social, linguistic, cultural, political, and societal trends behind them. Using a historical approach, students will analyze key influences in the history of the field of early care and education and reflect upon the diversity embedded in this field. Additionally, students will observe and differentiate between models of early care and education, including Afro-Centric approaches, Indigenous approaches, and dual language models (Teacher-Based and Time-Based). Students will incorporate these ideas into the development of their own teaching philosophy and recognize its importance to practice.