historical influences

7/29/2019 Historical Influences

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ECE104

Foundation of ECE

Historical Influences on Early

Childhood Education


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Why do we care?

Historical events and social timesinfluence our values

Political trends provoke a reaction from

the social group

In turn, influences how are children are

raised and valued

Current trends and practices are oftenrooted by some past practice

(rediscovery)


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Differing cultures

Some understanding of diverse

cultures help us as educators to

better understand an American

perspective on children

What does this mean?


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Remember

We often take what we hold to be

true as the only truth

In fact, there can be many right

ways to do things

Dependent upon values, personal

history, present conditions


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Do you value this?

Early attainment of individuality

and independence


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Do you value this?

Early attainment of individuality

and independence

Western European value but not

for those groups whose society

promotes group harmony and

interdependence


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Do you value this?

Early and free exploration


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Do you value this?

Early and free exploration

This value is not held insocieties where children are

held close, carrying them while

they work; often poor,

developing areas


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Do you value this?

Importance of early stimulation

of intellect and language


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Do you value this?

Importance of early stimulation

of intellect and language

Push down education that hasincreased focus on academic

and intellectual standards with

little discussion ondevelopmental domains in the

early years


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How and when?

Every society has the task ofsocializing and educating its

children, but how and when it is

done, is very dependent upon the

values and resources available.


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What is early childhood? (AKA

Early care and education)

Children ages birth through age 8

In group settings:

1. Infant and toddler rooms

2. Preschools and nursery schools

3. Kindergarten

4. Grades 1-3

5. Before and after school programs


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In early childhood, we are often

the bridge between the childs

two worlds:Home and school (group

setting)

Foundation for future learning

(Building Block years)


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Ancient Times

Definition of early childhood variesthroughout time

Often considered adults by age 7

Education started at home

Schooling provided to wealthy boys

Girls and working class taught domestic

work


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Plato and Aristotle

While education was beginning around 6or 7, Plato and Aristotle thought

education needed to be younger

Romans felt education needed to be athome when started to talk

Highlighted the use of rewards and

ineffectiveness of corporal punishment


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Ancient Greeks and Romans

Time of first schools outside of thehome

Plato (427 B.C.) and Aristotle (384-

323B.C.) founded schools using

small group tutoring

Taught wealthy boys thinking skills,governing, military strategy and

commerce


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400-1200 A.D.

Roman Empire fell apart

Childhood barely lasted past infancy

Education become responsibility of

parents but..

Parents focused on survival

Childhood not seen as a separate time

of life

Children needed to get into labor force

to contribute to family

Schools ceased to exist


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Before 15th Century

No educational system

Church in control in the medieval period

Children viewed as evil and needed to

be prepared for the afterlife

Children needed to be directed,

punished and corrected

Children expected to move quickly intoadulthood


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European Renaissance and

Reformation 1400-1600

Life was getting easier

Humanists educators advocated for

basic education for girls and the poor

Children were viewed as good

Printing press invented which allowed

for books to be available to the common

person This period brought to us the idea of

universal education and literacy


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1500s

Taught reading, writing, arithmetic andbook keeping became common through

out Europe

As living conditions improved, childrenlived longer

Came to understand that the educated

child could help improve the familyconditions but..

Families needed help in educating their

children


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Modern Times

John Amos Comenius (1592-1670)

Books with illustrations

Teachers should follow childs own

timetableLearning by doing, using the

senses, make exciting

Social reform: educate poor and


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John Locke 1632-1714)

Tabula rasa (clean slate)

Education needed to take into

account individual differences

Goal was to make a reasoning

creature so able to conduct

business Instruction be playful and pleasant

as well as drills


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Jean Jacques Rousseau

1712-1778

Children naturally good

Use of concrete materials

Children learn from first handinformation

Phases of development of a childs

mindEducation should match level of

development

Influenced future educators such as


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Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

1746-1827

More pragmatic: teach basic skills

Caring as well as educating

Integrated curriculum to educate thewhole child

Teaching in groups rather than with

tutors (Rousseau)


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Friedrich Froebel 1782-1852

Father of the kindergarten

Early childhood should be pleasant

Children should be able to playWith trained teachers


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Maria Montessori 1870-1952

First female physician in Italy

Worked with poor and retarded

children

Education begins at birth

Children pass through sensitive

periodsSequential steps of learning


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Rudolph Steiner 1861-1925

Establishment of Waldorf Schools

Carefully planned and nurturing

environment

Different areas of development

connected

Play is important


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Other influences from around the

world

Besides the European influences, therehave been other influences in our

educating of young

Japan and China: harmony, childrengood and worth of respect

Native Americans: interconnectedness

between families and people and natureAfrica: pool resources for common good

Latin America and Hispanic: value

children; cooperation; sensitivity to


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American Influences

Colonial times: children sent to school forreligious reasons

High death rate during starving season (60-70%

under 4)

Little overt affection

Children were economic tools

In the South, tutors to teach sons to read and

write Post Revolutionary War, no move towards

education until late 1800s because focus on

growing crops and pioneering future

During Industrial Revolution, manual labor and


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African Americans

Prior to Civil War, limited opportunities for AfricanAmericans to attend school

Babies and pregnant women treated well

because of their economic value

Laws prohibiting the teaching of slaves; seen as

threatening

Post Civil War, first education of Blacks but often

on a quota system and may be excluded


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John Dewey 1858-1952

Big influence on current teachingpractices

Education should be integrated into

with life and support living in society

(learning and living inseparable)

Children were naturally goodSchool focus on ALL the basics not

just a few


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Moving forward

There are many modern influences oncurrent education that will be explored

throughout the semester

Rarely is position on education new; it is

often a recycle or reforming of a

philosophy from the past the is currentlyadopted as best practice for the current

times

historical influences

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