Week 8-

International Contact Learning and Class Closing

So after making contact with my international contact, I feel that Australia is seeing some of the same pressures that we are seeing in America.  The one thing that I think they are possibly doing a little better at is making sure that play isn’t just stripped away from our children.  They also seem to making an effort to include different types of learning. 

The first consequence of international learning is that we aren’t the only ones going through some of these changes of accountability and assessment.  Many countries seem to be feeling the same pains.  I also think that we have so much to learn from other countries about how they are making these changes and what they are doing to support their families.  We all seem to have some of the same issues and with ideas from each other we can think of creative ways to solve these problems. 

The second consequence of international learning is that I have found our profession is in great danger in our world.  We have to take a minute and think about what is the most important aspect of our jobs.  The CHILDREN!!!! Somewhere along the way we have forgotten what we were passionate about and why we started this journey.  We have to learn that we must stop those who are push down curriculum and policies.  We can use any means necessary to help us.  Economics, medical research, and the pure politics of it can all be on our side if we just stand up and say NO, this isn’t what is best for us.  We need accountability but not at the cost of our children’s livelihoods. 

The last thing that I have learned is that we have more power than we realize just in terms of what is at our fingertips.  We live in an age of mass technology.  We fight that so much sometimes, but instead of fighting it let us use it to make a change.  Once things go viral they begin to take off at a running pace.  We need to shine a spot light on this issue and make sure that we aren’t blown out.  We can use technology to make it possible.  All we need is the ever present constant story on blogs, news sights, and any other means of advertising.  We can make a change we just need to be vigilant. 

Finally, my goal for the profession and international awareness is to stay connected and continue to make more contacts.  I think that the power of linking in with others who share those same beliefs is the one thing that our field needs.  We need to find a way to stand together and fight.  I really truly mean fight for our children’s future.  If we don’t pretty soon we will have completely lost any chance of being able to recover the damages we have done. 

Thanks everyone for being so helpful and just amazing colleagues.