Excerpts taken from the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment (April 2005) and the DEC Code of Ethics (August 2009)
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
DEC Code of Ethics:
http://www.dec-sped.org/uploads/docs/about_dec/position_concept_papers/Code%20of%20Ethics_updated_Aug2009.pdf
As an early childhood professional, I commit to:
• Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage
of the human life cycle
• Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn
• Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family
• Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society
• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague)
• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues
• Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect
My Thoughts: Early childhood education can not be viewed as a one size fits all approach - each child is unique and comes from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We must first meet children where they are in their development and base our curriculum and teaching to incorporate their individual needs, interests, and backgrounds. We must collaborate with parents and build bidirectional relationships with them that are based on mutual respect and considerate of their familial, cultural, ethnic, and social-economic needs. We must provide safe, healthy, high-quality care that is developmentally appropriate for each child.
Our Ethical Responsibilities to Children (Ideals reflect the aspirations of professionals):
• Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn
• Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family
• Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society
• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague)
• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues
• Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect
My Thoughts: Early childhood education can not be viewed as a one size fits all approach - each child is unique and comes from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We must first meet children where they are in their development and base our curriculum and teaching to incorporate their individual needs, interests, and backgrounds. We must collaborate with parents and build bidirectional relationships with them that are based on mutual respect and considerate of their familial, cultural, ethnic, and social-economic needs. We must provide safe, healthy, high-quality care that is developmentally appropriate for each child.
Our Ethical Responsibilities to Children (Ideals reflect the aspirations of professionals):
I-1.1—To be familiar with the knowledge base of early
childhood care and education and to stay informed
through continuing education and training.
I-1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.
I-1.4—To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.
I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
I-1.6—To use assessment instruments and strategies that are appropriate for the children to be assessed, that are used only for the purposes for which they were designed, and that have the potential to benefit children.
I-1.7—To use assessment information to understand and support children’s development and learning, to support instruction, and to identify children who may need additional services.
I-1.8—To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities.
I-1.9—To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful.
I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.
I-1.11—To provide all children with experiences in a language that they know, as well as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and in learning English.
I-1.12—To work with families to provide a safe and smooth transition as children and families move from one program to the next.
My Thoughts: In order to advocate for the ethical treatment of children as outlined by NAEYC and DEC, we must be willing to continue to develop ourselves professionally by staying informed of recent research and issues in the the early childhood field and by participating in continuing education. We should collaborate with other professionals in the field and advocate for children's rights. It is our responsibility to maintain the "appropriate national, state, or other credential or licensure requirements" (DEC, 2009). It is our responsibility to build high quality programs that are based on meeting all domains of child development: Cognitive, Social-Emotional, Physical and Language. We must use "individually and appropriate assessment strategies" to assess each child individually and use this knowledge to build a program that meets and supports each unique learner.
Our Ethical Responsibilities to Families:
I-1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.
I-1.4—To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.
I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
I-1.6—To use assessment instruments and strategies that are appropriate for the children to be assessed, that are used only for the purposes for which they were designed, and that have the potential to benefit children.
I-1.7—To use assessment information to understand and support children’s development and learning, to support instruction, and to identify children who may need additional services.
I-1.8—To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities.
I-1.9—To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful.
I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.
I-1.11—To provide all children with experiences in a language that they know, as well as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and in learning English.
I-1.12—To work with families to provide a safe and smooth transition as children and families move from one program to the next.
My Thoughts: In order to advocate for the ethical treatment of children as outlined by NAEYC and DEC, we must be willing to continue to develop ourselves professionally by staying informed of recent research and issues in the the early childhood field and by participating in continuing education. We should collaborate with other professionals in the field and advocate for children's rights. It is our responsibility to maintain the "appropriate national, state, or other credential or licensure requirements" (DEC, 2009). It is our responsibility to build high quality programs that are based on meeting all domains of child development: Cognitive, Social-Emotional, Physical and Language. We must use "individually and appropriate assessment strategies" to assess each child individually and use this knowledge to build a program that meets and supports each unique learner.
Our Ethical Responsibilities to Families:
I-2.1—To be familiar with the knowledge base related to
working effectively with families and to stay informed
through continuing education and training.
I-2.2—To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.
I-2.3—To welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program.
I-2.2—To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.
I-2.3—To welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program.
I-2.4—To listen to families, acknowledge and build upon
their strengths and competencies, and learn from
families as we support them in their task of nurturing
children.
I-2.5—To respect the dignity and preferences of each family and to make an effort to learn about its structure, culture, language, customs, and beliefs.
I-2.6—To acknowledge families’ childrearing values and their right to make decisions for their children.
I-2.7—To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession.
I-2.8—To help family members enhance their under- standing of their children and support the continuing development of their skills as parents.
I-2.9—To participate in building support networks for families by providing them with opportunities to interact with program staff, other families, community resources, and professional services.
My thoughts: Families are our greatest resource and are essential to the success of the child. We must welcome their participation in the program and find ways to share information with each other regarding what is best for the child. Mutual trust and respect is built when we "assure that families receive individualized, meaningful, and relevant services responsive to their beliefs, values, customs, languages and culture" (DEC, 2009). We can familiarize ourselves with outside resources that are available that can aid in the support of the family when needed.
I am very blessed to work for a wonderful organization that lives by values and ethics that are very similar to these stated by NAEYC. All employees of Intermountain Healthcare are taught to exhibit these values and commitments in their interactions with customers, patients, families, coworkers and community members. It is something that each employee is accountable for and lives by as part of their job description. In fact, these values and commitments are used as part of every employee's performance evaluation and they must account to how well they live these values and commitment in their profession. I know that part of the reason the Intermountain Child Development Centers are so professional and high quality is that our team strives to honor these values and commitments with our children, our families, our coworkers and others that aid us in our service to children.
Intermountain Healthcare Values:
I-2.5—To respect the dignity and preferences of each family and to make an effort to learn about its structure, culture, language, customs, and beliefs.
I-2.6—To acknowledge families’ childrearing values and their right to make decisions for their children.
I-2.7—To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession.
I-2.8—To help family members enhance their under- standing of their children and support the continuing development of their skills as parents.
I-2.9—To participate in building support networks for families by providing them with opportunities to interact with program staff, other families, community resources, and professional services.
My thoughts: Families are our greatest resource and are essential to the success of the child. We must welcome their participation in the program and find ways to share information with each other regarding what is best for the child. Mutual trust and respect is built when we "assure that families receive individualized, meaningful, and relevant services responsive to their beliefs, values, customs, languages and culture" (DEC, 2009). We can familiarize ourselves with outside resources that are available that can aid in the support of the family when needed.
I am very blessed to work for a wonderful organization that lives by values and ethics that are very similar to these stated by NAEYC. All employees of Intermountain Healthcare are taught to exhibit these values and commitments in their interactions with customers, patients, families, coworkers and community members. It is something that each employee is accountable for and lives by as part of their job description. In fact, these values and commitments are used as part of every employee's performance evaluation and they must account to how well they live these values and commitment in their profession. I know that part of the reason the Intermountain Child Development Centers are so professional and high quality is that our team strives to honor these values and commitments with our children, our families, our coworkers and others that aid us in our service to children.
Intermountain Healthcare Values:
- Mutual respect. "We treat others the way we want to be treated."
- Accountability. "We accept responsibility for our actions, attitudes and mistakes."
- Trust. "We can count on each other."
- Excellence. "We do our best at all times and look for ways to do it even better."
The Intermountain Healthcare Commitments:
*I help you feel safe, welcome and at ease
*I listen to you with sensitivity and respond to your needs
*I treat you with respect and compassion
*I keep you informed and involved
*I take responsibility to solve problems
*I ensure our team works with you
To learn more please visit Intermountain Healthcare at:
I truely believe that your years of service has given you the outlook on what is effective in being in the early childhood field. I believe that everyone is not cut out to work with children but everytime I read your post I feel the passion you display for the children.
ReplyDeleteThank you Devona. I appreciate that feedback and I do have a strong passion and commitment to children and the early childhood field. I hope I do them justice and can keep learning and growing in my desire to become a more effective leader and advocate for them.
DeleteI also agree that it is important to respect the diversity of young children especially since the demographics of the classroom has changed so much from what it used to be.
ReplyDelete