The times thay are a changing!

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

(Dylan, B. n.d.).

The times are certainly changing for many beneficiaries across New Zealand.The Education Minister has, in my opinion made it quite clear that her aim is to shift as many people as possible off the benefit. I do believe that Ms Bennett does have some good ideas; I just do not know if her approach has been adequately thought through, I do challenge the fact, that where are all these jobs going to come from?

In September 2012 Paula Bennett released a cabinet paper detailing a range of new commitments that parents on state benefits will have to meet. One of the obligations that were outlined was for those children of beneficiaries from the age of 3 years would have to attend a Government approved ECE service for 15 hours per week. This has excluded Parents as first teachers (PAFT) and HIIPY parent based children groups. The paper reveals that all working-age beneficiaries with preschool aged children will be required to take 'all reasonable steps' to have their child attend a licensed ECE service for a minimum of 15 hours a week until they start school ( News for early childhood education, 2012).

 The Child Forum (2012) summed it up when they stated this. “The introduction of compulsory ECE for children aged from 3 years heralds a major change in social and educational policy in New Zealand. It is being brought in via the Ministry of Social Development instead of through the Ministry of Education, and without widespread consultation and public debate”.

This it seems is going to put a lot of financial pressure on these families that are already struggling in this hostile economic environment. If they do not comply with the Government regulations their benefit will be cut by 50%. Ms Bennett has been quoted as saying the 50 percent cap is “in the interest of the child” and the parent can re-comply” (News for early childhood education, 2012).

 I do not know if it is just me but I cannot see that how it can be in the best interest of the child if there is only half the total amount of money coming into a house hold because mum, or dad (whoever is the sole parent) decides that it may not be the best thing for their child to be attending an early childcare setting. Or even more concerning that they do not like the choice of the centre that is near them and do not have transport to others. Will half the amount of benefit equal half the amount of food and essential living items?

“Until now, parental access of childcare and support with early education has been a parental choice. This policy change signals movement toward the educational institutionalisation of children from a younger age. Compulsory ECE is being brought in, for the children of beneficiary parents, opening the door to a possibility of extending the age for compulsory education downward to 3 for all New Zealand children” (News for early childhood education , 2012). Does this signal a new era of compulsory education for children?

 

There is a lot of debate around the fact whether centre based learning is the best for children, or is at home in a familiar environment, with at least one parent, more beneficial? Research into the effects of children in non parental care in Norway has shown that if the care is of good quality these children form lasting attachments to non parental care givers. This has helped their social interactions with other adults and seemed to, according to Campell, Lamb and Hwang,(2000),“show better social competence through all their years of school to the age of 15 than children who did not attend childcare (Campell, Lamb and Hwang, 2000, as cited in (Unheim & Drugli, 2012,p.5.). This study was done on children in full time care however there was mention that children that attend childcare for shorter times also showed signs of the benefits of social competence.

In contrast to the belief that socialisation of learning seen in the centre environment is best, is philosopher, Jean –Jacques Rousseau’s idea that children should be left to naturally grow without the pressures of having to perform to a certain educational standard. Rousseau also felt that children did not need to be socialised, favouring learning the knowledge and realities of life in stead (Stables, 2003).

Early childhood teacher’s have voiced their concerns that they may feel under pressure to accept children into centre if they are sick, due to their parents being penalised if not having children attend for the required amount of time (News for early childhood education, 2012).

In the early childhood setting it is important to build strong relationships between, teacher’s children and their families. A report into the thoughts and recommendations of the compulsory early childhood attendance for 3 and four year olds produced these concerns from teachers. Teachers felt that by, “requiring a group of parents to use ECE in this way is expected to create a number of difficulties and make the job of teachers and ECE service providers a lot harder (The state of early childhood, 2012).

 

 

References

 

Child Forum (2012). The state of the early childhood and education sector in 2012 and outlook for 2013. Retrieved from. http://www.childforum.com/policy-issues/surveys-and-ece-sector-a-family-data/988-state-of-early-childcare-education-sector-2012-outlook-for-2013.html#ixzz2ReR66aQx

Child Forum (2012) News for early childhood education. Retrieved from. http://www.childforum.com | |

Dylan, B. (n.d.). The Times They Are A-Changin' Lyrics ( Lyrics Freak, n.d.). Retrieved from. http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/bob+dylan/the+times+they+are+a+changin_20021240.html
 

Magnuson, K., Shager H. ( 2010) Early education: progress and promise for children from low- income families. 32 (9), pp. 1186-1198.  Retrieved from Children and Youth Review.

Stables, A. (2003) Education for diversity making differences. Hampshire England:Ashgate.

Three News. (2011). Best News. Send kids to pre-school or lose be Retrieve from. http://www.3news.co.nz/Send-kids-to-pre-school-or-lose-benefit/tabid/1607/articleID/268921/Default.aspx

Undheim, A. M., Drugli, M.B. (2012). Experiences with full –time child care attendance on young children in Norway; Parents and early childhood teacher’s views, 3 (1), 1-15. Retrieved from AEI/ Australian Education Index.