Larry Prochner

This book considers the diffusion and transfer of educational ideas through local and transcontinental networks within and across five socio-political spaces. The authors examine the social, political, and historical preconditions for the transfer of “new education” theory and practices in each period, place, and school, along with the networks of ideas and experts that supported this. The authors use historical methods to examine the schools and to pursue the story of the circulation of new ideas in education. In particular, chapters investigate how educational ideas develop within contexts, travel across boundaries, and are adapted in new contexts.

This book considers the diffusion and transfer of educational ideas through local and transcontinental networks within and across five socio-political spaces. The authors examine the social, political, and historical preconditions for the transfer of “new education” theory and practices in each period, place, and school, along with the networks of ideas and experts that supported this. The authors use historical methods to examine the schools and to pursue the story of the circulation of new ideas in education. In particular, chapters investigate how educational ideas develop within contexts, travel across boundaries, and are adapted in new contexts.

Learning to Teach Young Children provides you with the tools to critically engage with the key concepts and beliefs in early childhood education theory and practice. The book is organized around ten propositions that are explored in relation to 30 key questions, for example:- What does it mean to honour children’s right to be different?- What does it mean to learn?- How can images of childhood be used as frames for practice? Original comic-book style illustrations are used to explore key theoretical concepts in an accessible and engaging way. The book also includes a companion website offering overviews of the key concepts covered in the book, supplementary information and references, reflective questions and case studies to support your learning.

Learning to Teach Young Children provides you with the tools to critically engage with the key concepts and beliefs in early childhood education theory and practice. The book is organized around ten propositions that are explored in relation to 30 key questions, for example:- What does it mean to honour children’s right to be different?- What does it mean to learn?- How can images of childhood be used as frames for practice? Original comic-book style illustrations are used to explore key theoretical concepts in an accessible and engaging way. The book also includes a companion website offering overviews of the key concepts covered in the book, supplementary information and references, reflective questions and case studies to support your learning.

Early childhood education is critical for preparing children for success in formal school settings, and as such, is a major concern throughout the world. This volume brings together ground-breaking research in this area to help practitioners, students, policy makers, curriculum designers, and intervention program developers understand the latest ideas and advances in the field. Recent Perspectives of Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada centres on three key themes. The first provides a survey of historical, social policy, economic, and provincial regulations and policies related to early childhood education and care. The second focuses on issues related to children’s learning, curriculum, and teachers. The final theme addresses recent developments in government involvement in early childhood education and care that are unique to Canada. The contributors to this volume demonstrate the pressing need that exists to further public discussion on early childhood education to help policymakers shape better decisions for Canadian families.

In the early nineteenth century, governments developed kindergartens and infant schools to give children a head start in life. These programs hinged on new visions of childhood that originated in England and Europe, but what happened when they were transported to the colonies? This book unwinds the tangled threads of this history by tracing how Enlightenment thought and Romantic ideas translated into early infant schools in England, kindergartens in Germany and the United States, and free kindergarten systems in the Commonwealth countries. The systems that emerged in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand maintained the integrity of the ideas and models that inspired them but adapted them to suit local ideas, politics, and populations. This unique account of early childhood education in comparative perspective provides fresh insight into how to reconcile educational theory and practice in an increasingly global world.

In the early nineteenth century, governments developed kindergartens and infant schools to give children a head start in life. These programs hinged on new visions of childhood that originated in England and Europe, but what happened when they were transported to the colonies? This book unwinds the tangled threads of this history by tracing how Enlightenment thought and Romantic ideas translated into early infant schools in England, kindergartens in Germany and the United States, and free kindergarten systems in the Commonwealth countries. The systems that emerged in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand maintained the integrity of the ideas and models that inspired them but adapted them to suit local ideas, politics, and populations. This unique account of early childhood education in comparative perspective provides fresh insight into how to reconcile educational theory and practice in an increasingly global world.

Formal programs for the care and education of young children in Canada have a history that goes back almost 200 years, yet issues surrounding services for our youngest Canadians continue to be hotly contested as we begin a new century. In Canada, early childhood care and education are striking for their tremendous diversity on such key issues as curriculum, financing, and teacher education. The range of programs and philosophies can be overwhelming for parents, practitioners, academics, researchers, and policy makers alike. Larry Prochner and Nina Howe reflect the variation within the field by bringing together a multidisciplinary group of experts to address key issues in the field: What programs are currently available and what are their origins? How are adults prepared for work in these programs? How do children within the programs spend their day? What policies guide the programs? How has the field reflected on itself through research? There are no simple answers, but the essays in this collection contribute to a creative reframing of the questions. The authors include psychologists, sociologists, historians, teacher educators, and social policy analysts. Early Childhood Care and Education in Canada will be of interest to students, teachers, and researchers in child study, early education, policy studies, and history. With cutbacks to early education programs, a shortage of daycare spaces, and uncertainty about future levels of support, the time is ripe for a close examination of the services we provide for our youngest citizens.

Formal programs for the care and education of young children in Canada have a history that goes back almost 200 years, yet issues surrounding services for our youngest Canadians continue to be hotly contested as we begin a new century. In Canada, early childhood care and education are striking for their tremendous diversity on such key issues as curriculum, financing, and teacher education. The range of programs and philosophies can be overwhelming for parents, practitioners, academics, researchers, and policy makers alike. Larry Prochner and Nina Howe reflect the variation within the field by bringing together a multidisciplinary group of experts to address key issues in the field: What programs are currently available and what are their origins? How are adults prepared for work in these programs? How do children within the programs spend their day? What policies guide the programs? How has the field reflected on itself through research? There are no simple answers, but the essays in this collection contribute to a creative reframing of the questions. The authors include psychologists, sociologists, historians, teacher educators, and social policy analysts. Early Childhood Care and Education in Canada will be of interest to students, teachers, and researchers in child study, early education, policy studies, and history. With cutbacks to early education programs, a shortage of daycare spaces, and uncertainty about future levels of support, the time is ripe for a close examination of the services we provide for our youngest citizens.