Emerging Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Ten selected emerging trends in the field of early childhood education are discussed in this conference address: (1) a reevaluation of the view that early childhood education is a panacea; (2) greater emphasis on planned continuity between kindergartens and the primary grades; (3) increased use of multi-age grouping; (4) need for parenthood education in the high school; (5) importance of parent involvement in the decision making and policy formation processes concerning the education of his child and the implementation of classroom programs; (6) wider acceptance of the structured or prepared environment in programs; (7) development of a quality day care environment based on careful research and evaluation, (8) importance of humanistic or affective education; (9) need for aesthetic education (music, dance, literature, dramatics) in the total education of the child; and (10) accountability of teachers to the consumer as well as to the school boards. (Author)