Nondefense Discretionary Programs

Well as you know I love the website the National Head Start Association and the reason why is their love for early childhood education.  This week they had a great article on the 3000 organizations that signed a letter asking for the protection of nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs.  Programs such as Head Start make up 3.4% of the budget and are not the cause of the growing debt.  If congress decides to cut NDD programs than more than 100,000 children will lose their Head Start or Early Head Start position in the middle of the school year, which basically puts us back to square one in the achievement gap of children in poverty. I love this article for many reasons it validates why we do not need more budget cuts and it really makes people think about how important early childhood education is to our community and our children. 

As for the topic of neuroscientist, economists, and politians this article wraps it up very nicely on how important their support is to early childhood education. I think this week I hit it out of the ballpark with this article and issues surrounding economics and achievement gaps between children in poverty and their peers.  I say increase the budget that gives a return investment and a brighter future and implement Universal Preschool too!!!!!!!!!

India's Poverty

India is home to the South’s highest poverty rate.  The challenge this county faces is unique in an all aspects as they face poverty in both high and low regions of the land.  The poverty associated with this country covers all spectrums of struggle such as education, health, skills, and economic growth.  India’s high rates of communicable diseases, malnutrition, and maternal and prenatal illnesses, are predominant among poor people. The fast rates of non- communicable diseases, while rapid urbanization is resulting in new health problems, such as HIV/AIDS.  Children of India also face severe poverty as an estimated 400 million children 0-18 make up the population.  Nearly half of the children in India are malnourished or born significantly underweight.  The 20% of the world’s children out of school come from India and girls are less significant.  In fact girls make up almost 68% of the work force in India (Marshall).  Boys are regarded as highly favorable and are encourage attending both primary and secondary school. 

Although, India faces such a crisis in poverty they are making strides in reducing the spectrum that is associated with it.  Important achievements have been made in health and education. Infant mortality fell from 80 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 69 in 2000. The enrolment of primary school-aged children rose from 68 percent in 1992/1993 to 82 percent at the end of the decade (Marshall).   At last India’s government is implementing programs such as the largest food subsidy programmed, which is explicitly targeted towards the poor.   In essence, the life for children and the people of India are hard and unimaginable in a world that associates poverty with food stamps and EEO housing. 

Marshall, J. (n.d.). Childhood poverty research and policy centre. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/ p://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

Web Resources

The website I have chosen to focus on for the next eight weeks is http://www.nhsa.org which is the National Head start Association.  This organization focuses on the advocacy of providing children with early intervention services to become a healthier and more academically accomplished young person all over the United States.  The article that caught my attention in this month’s newsletter is the 2013 budget for the Head Start program and the danger it inflicts.  The Head Start program is looking at significant budget cuts in 2013 affecting teacher cuts and the program as a whole.  Children’s acceptance into the program will be significantly cut as well as the budget for operating cost.  The NHSA is asking for all educators to contact their congressman and advocate for the benefits of the Head Start program.  I know as a Head Start teacher the severe impact the budget has on the program.  I lost my job last year along with several other teachers and assistants after we went form an 18 classroom program to 10.  We served 280 kids in 2011-2012 and those numbers have decreased significantly.  In a population in which the Head Start program serves a majority of the young children it really broke my heart to know that we loss major funding this school year and now are at risk for losing more.  In relation to the demographics and the budget cuts it is simple as long as we are losing we are failing our children.  It is hard enough to be an immigrant in the United States but not having the proper services to give each child a level playing field is even more of a tragedy.  I crinch at the thought that Congress won’t think enough of our young children to advocate for their education; it is time to implement universal preschool!  The demographics show the increase in populations of immigrants and their children needing early intervention services.  It would be un-American not to provide them with an equal opportunity education. 

International Contacts

Well I must say this assignment has not been easy thus far.....I have contacted over 8 individuals from the resource blog and have not heard from anyone.  I am not sure if they think it is some type of joke by me contacting them or what.  I thought I was professional in my contact and intializing some type of communication, not sure what to do now but to turn to the alterntive assisgnment.  If I do not hear anything by next week then I will be forced to do the alternative, not really what I wanted to do considering I was looking forward to hearing from at least one individual on their trends in issues in their country.  If anyone is reading this and has had any luck in a contact please enlightem me on how you got them to repsond.  I understand individuals are busy but to hear from another professional in ECE influcing another would really make my day!  I just need one contact!!!!!!!!!!!

My Supports

Ahh support, I think without it I would have quit my job a billion times this year as it has been one of the most overwhelming and stressful career changes of my life.  My support begins with my husband who listens no matter how frustrated or angry I get because administration offers no support. I think without his strong support and lending an ear I would have gone crazy by now, he is my cheerleader!  Someone I can confide in and never questions if I am right or wrong but always knows that I have my classrooms best interest at all times.  I beleive if my husband was not the strength I need to go to my job and give my very best, I would not make it.  I would be a ticking time bottom ready to explode at any minute he is my decompression chamber at the end of the day. 

As for my 4 caregivers in my classroom I cannot live without these group of ladies.  They are my strengths each providing a special gift in the classroom that makes it run smoothly.  I crinch at the thought of losing any of them and will fight to the death to keep them.  We are all so compatible and supportive of each other they take away my stress and vise versa I take away theirs.  I beleive if I were to lose one of these lovely ladies I would run!!!!!  I have worked with other coworkers when my ladies were out or on vacation and I thought I would just jump right off a bridge.  I have a very ecclatic class that needs alot of support and guidance and when the missing links are gone it impacts our world tremonsously!!!!!!!!!!!!  I thank these ladies all the time for their support and courage to show up in our crazy world everyday and I value their input and their strengths they bring so we can be the best me (S) we can.

I have two children who have severe disabilities.  One is a X who is DD and very defiant and has many behavior issues.  Without the support of these extra ladies in my classroom we could not survive.  This particular child needs alot of guidance and one on one support and I beleive without it we would just fall apart both mentally and spiritually.  X is a constant disruption and disturbance to all the children in the classroom.  We need each other to piggy back off of our strengths and continue the mind set and tone of this individual.  As for our other friend Y who is an emotional wreck and cries, throws tantrums lasting 45 minutes and longer, that individual is a constant challange everyday in the classroom. The benefits of these particular ladies is we all keep our sanity!!!!!  Adminsitration often turns a blind eye to our friends situations until recently when they had no choice but to be involved for disruptive and aggressive behaviors.  We often get little to no support but just recently we turn the tables on them by providing them with the company of our friends in the office on a 2-3 times weekly basis.  We are now getting a behavior specialist involved and the support of the trainer who often runs and criticizes the situation and how we handle it.  In the last six months we have had one of the toughest classroom at our center and now we are getting the support we need to help these two friends become successful in the classroom.  I beleive honestly none of us could go on another month with these behaviors but with the Lord's strength and the support of each other always making a pact to have each others back I feel very blessed and forunate to know they appreciate me as much as I love them. 

My Connections to Play

There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago.

J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER,

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.--Plato, Greek philosopher 

I was so excited to write about play and the impact it had on me as a child...I grew up in the 80's what a great time too!  We played outside all day and used our imagination and came home when the streets lights came on.  My parents were a great supporter of my play they encourage it and supported my passions of my love for my Cabbage Patch Doll which I still have today including my adoption papers.   My doll is Lila Julienne and she went every where and had all the accessories I would need to be a great mom :) My mom would tell people that is her granddaughter and supported me in wanting more children by buying three more siblings.  I played for hours with my dolls and created elaborate scenarios in playing house.  I never let my friends hold any of my children but I always created ways they could join in the fun!  My second love was my big wheel, of course it was not exactly like the one pictured  because the seat was higher but I remember burning some rubber in my cul-de-sac.  My friends and I would race carry our babies on the back and be the police to the older kids because we knew that we were the fastest.  My childhood was fantastic I was always outside, never even knew what a video game was until I was in the 7th grade and then still preferred to be outside.

 I think the difference of youth today is they don't know how to play.  They prefer electronics over imagination and exercise and show no interest in interacting with friends because it is so hot outside!  I never knew what hot was and I lived in Oklahoma for 7 years as a child.  I understand that the dynamics have changed with urbanization and children missing but take them to the park for goodness sakes or go outside with them and watch them play!  We grow up as adults and I know for myself that play with and without my parents was an integral part of my childhood still today. 

I believe what separates us from our childhood is the ability to play....if  recent studies can be found that taking a 30 minute nap improves our thinking abilities at work, than why not study the measure of play and how an imagination can improve your overall abstract thinking.  I bet if we asked a 4 year-old the best way to build a bridge they would come up with a better solution than a 28 year old who has a masters in engineering.  Its all about the ability to think beyond the problem in the box but to explore the problem beyond its realms.   

Relationship Reflection

I will begin by stating that relationships are a key component of who we are and what we become later in life.  It is a known fact that our parents and environment influence us beyond our years before we even realize it is happening.  Relationships are the glue that holds us together and defines who we are on the inside.  I grew up with great relationships stemming from my mother, siblings, and aunts to now a wife and mother. 

I cannot recall the events that took place with those wonderful relationships but I have not spoken to my mother, siblings, and aunts in over three years now....instead I fill my days with caring for my three children, and being a teacher, and a wife.  My positive relationships begin with my three beautiful children whom I love with all my heart.  Each of my children are unique and different, a relationship I cherish as I spend quality time with each of them understanding why they are so special.  My oldest son is 15 and I must say there is something about your first born because we have a bond that is tight like glue.  He tells me his dreams and aspirations, looks to me for support and comfort and always willing to share his special moments with me.  In return I empathize, laugh, and celebrate his life.  We are so alike and yet so different.....My middle child is 12 going on 13 and though he reminds me allot of myself, he such a polar opposite of what I envision for him too.  Smart and witty he makes me laugh and smile but his teenage perceptions of the world make me want to scream!  I am not sure if he is going through a phase right now or I am just seeing more of his dad in his personality, but I long for my sweet child's affection and  kisses.  My son use to love to sit in my lap and read and now I have to compete with his IPOD and phone.  I miss my little man but i look forward to the man he will become.  My youngest is 4 and a princess, I hope she never grows up!  She is such a joy so warm and giving and always thinking of her brothers.  She loves giving kisses and telling me how much she missed me...a word  I don't take for granted for I know as a mother there will be an absence of time before she remembers to say it again in her adult years.

 Here is a picture of my family and our nephew...my greatest joys and achievements!

Although, my children are a true blessing I learned how to love and be patient from my husband. Marcus is my rock and salvation, the only person who has been true and loved me unconditionally. We are complete opposites yet he makes me whole in every way. We have been married for 13 years and although we have been through some tough times we always made a promise to work through it together. I know there is no one I would rather argue, love, or want to make me happy then my husband who commits himself to me everyday of our lives.

I know that my positive relationships come from the love and joy of my family, but I do understand as a parent and mother the perspectives of my parents and children I interact with every day. I know what it is to empathize and have concerns about your child and be a military spouse, and that is why I keep the lines of communication open. I know sometimes that I maybe the person they need to vent to or give him or her support. Being a teacher is not just about sharing the love of learning but I am also a counselor, mentor, and advocate. Parents need to know they have a partner in their child's learning and I do my best to rest assure they can count on me. I am the beginning of the education system. I determine the positive and the negative of children's lifelong learning success. I am the first impression.