The strategy that I find particularly useful to influence the political will is storytelling. Dr. David Walsh, a friend and colleague of mine has a saying "Who ever tells the story defines the culture" that I use often. The story all over the nation is about large percentages of children coming to school not ready to be there. This story is a tough one for me to swallow. I went to kindergarten in the fall of 1965. I had never been in childcare, I had never been in preschool. On my first day, my mom pointed me in the right direction to the bus stop. She was holding my little sisters hand and had my baby sister on her hip. My big brother and sister were in middle school. I was ready. Every single one of my classmates was ready. Kindergarten was a wonderful place to learn to get along with others, follow a routine, and learn the basics of being a good student. I was ready for kindergarten because kindergarten was designed for a five year old.
In order to move the social, economic, and political will of the country, policy makers tell a story that links the future work force to skills children learn in preschool. Enough of the narrative is true enough to inspire new policies and influence the political will. Undoubtedly there will be intended and unintended consequences of the story. The story has already begun to change kindergarten from a place to learn to learn to a place where learning is measured.
The part of the work that appeals to me is storytelling. Telling the story about what kids need from their early childhood experiences. To tell a story about play, and imagination and their important role in wiring a brain for learning. To tell a story about the kinds of classrooms that kids need and the teachers in them. The kinds of stories that reclaims early childhood for children. I have a body of work and experience behind me now that makes me a force to be reckoned with, a force for children and their parents to advocate for a childhood that children and the adults who love them can enjoy.
Katy,
ReplyDeleteIn my work with QRS, our goal was to give children more learning through play and bring back those experiences that developed life skills needed to succeed. However many providers in child care complained that if they did that, the children would not be prepared for Kindergarten and parents would be displeased. Because these providers depend on customer satisfaction to fund their programs, they did not want to change their procedures. Now that the Dept. of Education has taken over our QRS, they are implementing early learning standards with measures and accountability to fit in more with the elementary schools. Where has childhood gone?!! Good for you! Keep on being an advocate for childhood.
Jo