A Note of THANKS

Dear Walden Colleagues,
This note is to thank each of you for your shared talents, wisdom, and knowledge.  I have enjoyed your comments and blogs.  It was great having you all to learn from.  I pray God's best for all of you and may we all achieve our goals and ultimately change the world of early childhood for the better.

With Sincere Gratitude,
Linda Ferdinand

Examining Codes of Ethics

All ideals within the NAEYC and DEC codes are meaningful as well as very beneficial to the early childhood arena.  The three I chose encompasses some of the others.  The fact that I serve children and families I find it crucial to advocate for and ensure that all children including those with special needs have access to the support services needed to be successful, as stated in NAEYC Ideal 1-1.9.  It is equally essential that I be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and stay informed through continuing education and training, which reflects NAEYC Ideal 1-1.1.  More so, it is imperative that I help family members enhance their understanding of their children and support the continuing development of their skills as parents, in accordance with NAEYC Ideal 1-2.8.  These ideals are meaningful to my personal life for several reasons.  I am indeed accountable to the families I serve; I have a responsibility to be the voice for the children in my community; I must continue building my knowledge base to share my expertise, wisdom, and information with staff, parents, and colleagues.  This is personally important to me because I frequently experience parents that have no idea how to raise their children or teach them good values, positive self-esteem, and character traits, simply because they have not been taught themselves.  It is my deep desire to do what is in my power to ensure a change for the betterment of all involved in early childhood education, and ultimately bring about positive developments in families, communities, societies, cultures, ethnicities, and the world at large. 

It is important that parents, educators, leaders, politicians, and lawmakers realize that children are our most important asset.  They are our future leaders and it is our obligation to help transform them into effective progressive citizens.  Therefore, all people need to be enlightened concerning the magnitude of schooling our children early on.  Children want to learn and grow; we should be there to ensure they do it the positive way.  No child should be excluded.  Every child deserves the right to an education, it is a civil right. 

Additionally, many parents need to be educated, because they are their child’s first teacher.  They can only teach them what they know.   Sadly, if parents know nothing, then that is what they teach their children, and that can be devastating.  Education is undeniably expensive, but ignorance is far more costly and must be eradicated.  That is my passion, which is the essence of building better lives and communities.   This is worth remembering, because it keeps me motivated to continue working to impress lives at the most crucial and moldable stage for positive change, which is early childhood.