When I Think of Research....

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Poverty is an issue that we face on a daily basis everywhere in the world. Research has explained, time and time again, that as a result of poverty school-aged children face a number of challenges. These challenges include but are not limited to poor social skills, self-esteem issues and more.
Literature tells us, “Children who are economically disadvantaged families are more likely to experience socioemotional problems, such as impaired peer relations, low self-esteem, lower levels of sociability and initiative, and classroom externalizing, and internalizing behavior problems than children who live in families with greater financial resources.” (Lichter, Shanahan, & Gardner,(p. 91).)
Conducting my research would help to keep children in the classroom rather than expelled and isolated. If, in fact, the data shows that poverty is the cause of antisocial behaviors rather than treating the behavior i.e., suspension, expulsion, detention, etc. we can treat the cause of the behavior i.e., poverty.

My perception of the field of ECE has not necessarily changed. I still have the utmost respect and adoration for the professionals who work in the field. It indeed is a taxing one.
Additionally, Thank you for keeping me going. This class has been an ultimate challenge and through this course you all, my colleagues have helped me more than you know.

Lichter, D. T., Shanahan, M. J., & Gardner, E. L. (2002). Helping others? The effects of childhood poverty and family instability on prosocial behavior. Youth & Society, 34(1),            89–119. 

Research Around the World

Current issues involving research outside of the United States, more specifically in Africa and Europe include:

Increasing parent involvement
Educators getting engaged in researching their own practice
Interaction in single- low income- mother families
Teachers concepts of learning

Just to name a few.
From the websites below the most important idea that I gathered is that the issues and concerns faced in the United States are faced all around the world. Parent involvement is always an area of concern, as well as professional development, and understanding or addressing issues of poverty.

Notable Infomation:

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Habtom%20-%20MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf
 Tells us "Despite clear evidence that the world’s children are tomorrow’s human capital, early years’ interventions have continued to be poorly represented in the overall systems of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Eritrea. In Eritrea, due to successive wars and droughts, the overall opportunities created for early years’ interventions have remained of low quality and limited to only a small percentage of children. For example, during the period 1998-1999, only 5% of children aged 5-6 were enrolled in kindergarten centres, most of them in urban areas (Ministry of Education, 1999)"
This information was particularly interesting and mind-blowing. Considering, if your child is not enrolled in school at a certain age the police will come looking for you.
I think that in the United States education is so assessable that it is undervalued and underappreciated.

My generation could not imagine not going to school. Be it a center, home school, or something of the like in America some form of schooling is taking place.

I also find it particularly interesting how the same issues are topics of education worldwide, however, the magnitude of issues vary.

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

https://www.eecera.org/journal/