Reforming Or Conforming

"This should be essential reading for anyone involved in the training and professional development of early years practitioners... It is an impressive analysis of the historical and contemporary 'big ideas' that have influenced societies ' and practitioners' views of children and the nature of the curriculum. There are powerful sections on parents and communities ... I particularly liked the stimulating 'ideas galleries' with their statements from researchers, policy-makers and practitioners around the world." Nursery World, October 2004 This key textbook introduces students and practitioners to a wide range of different approaches to early childhood. It provides practical strategies for developing and implementing early learning experiences that promote excellence and equity for children. The book presents the latest research and thinking about good practice, discusses how various philosophies and beliefs influence decisions in early childhood education, and identifies the key thinkers behind each approach. By examining different perspectives, the book helps early childhood practitioners to navigate their way through competing views, make informed choices, and be critically reflective in their work. In an accessible, lively and user-friendly way, it explores issues such as: What constitutes an appropriate early childhood curriculum How best to study and assess children Involving parents and children in early childhood learning The book features a range of pedagogical devices to inspire early childhood workers to reflect critically on their work and the ideas underpinning it, including: Boxed definitions of key terms Ideas summary charts and ideas galleries Clarification exercises Case studies Further reading lists This essential textbook is ideal for students undertaking early childhood qualifications at degree level, Masters courses in early childhood education, and for practitioners who work with children from birth to eight in early childhood settings.

Media reform plays an increasingly important role in the struggle for social justice. As battles are fought over the future of investigative journalism, media ownership, spectrum management, speech rights, broadband access, network neutrality, the surveillance apparatus, and digital literacy, what effective strategies can be used in the pursuit of effective media reform? Prepared by thirty-three scholars and activists from more than twenty-five countries, Strategies for Media Reform focuses on theorizing media democratization and evaluating specific projects for media reform. This edited collection of articles offers readers the opportunity to reflect on the prospects for and challenges facing campaigns for media reform and gathers significant examples of theory, advocacy, and activism from multinational perspectives.

ARE YOU MISSING THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH? There are unfortunately many teachings being taught in today's churches that aren't theologically correct. Because of the fact that so many believers are biblically illiterate just makes this problem more apparent as time goes by. Ministers of the gospel of Christ aren't giving out the message of truth as outlined in God's Holy Word, but are instead giving their audiences what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths" 2 Timothy 4:3, 4 (NASB) It is my sincere hope that as we approach the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that the divine truth of the gospel goes forth in the dynamics of the Holy Spirit, and that lives are miraculously transformed by God's Awesome Power.

This volume is concerned with the stages or ‘processes’ through which education systems pass in countries which are moving from authoritarian styles of government to various styles of democracy. The authors have been concerned to identify common features that might be observable in systems which are, on the surface at least, very diverse: those of Latvia, South Africa and the former German Democratic Republic. The authors postulate a model which might be applicable both to the countries with which they are principally concerned and to other countries in similar – or comparable – states of transition.

This text is designed to support novice and more experienced early childhood educators working with children (from birth to age eight) to be critically reflective in diverse aspects of their work. Each section contains ideas, clarification exercises, reflection points, summaries and case studies.