Evolving Issues in Early Childhood Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper describes issues in early childhood education that were most pressing 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago, indicates whether these have been resolved, and outlines issues now considered urgent. In 1967, the most salient issues were the following: How important is early childhood for education? When should early education begin? Can early education compensate for childhood experiences at home? Are the effects of early education permanent? In 1972, the central issue was what kind of early educational program is best? By 1977, the most pressing issues had shifted to the following: How can early education be done most efficiently and cheaply? Is parent education the answer? How does parent education work? In 1982, a new issue had arisen: What are the effects of full-time day care on preschool children's development? Today, the most pressing new issues seem to be: How can we maximize the fit between programs and participants? What are the implications of the superbaby trend? What are the effects of day care on infants' development? A plea is made for research studies to be conducted that will address these urgent issues. (Author/RH)