Introduction
Professional development and teaching have been something that has changed over time with each generation. Professional development is an ongoing process that helps teachers keep up with changes in teaching practices and technology (Hargreaves, 2000). Teaching is a profession that requires either an art or a science. However, just like art, which requires expression through color, line and form, science demands a closer examination of the data collected from experiments to reach conclusions that will lead us to discoveries about our universe. To achieve both artistry and science within a classroom setting, I believe that it is vital for teachers to continue professional development programs. This essay discusses the professionalization of early childhood education and what precisely characterizes professionalism in early childhood education.
Definitions of the Terms
Professionalism and professionalization are concepts that have to do with how a person conducts themselves in their job. Professionalism is about respecting one’s career, while professionalization is about respecting oneself and their work (Hargreaves, 2000). Professionalization is becoming more efficient at doing a particular job, while professionalism results from that efficiency (Hargreaves, 2000). In addition, professionalism is a set of characteristics that help people become more effective, efficient and effective in their work. Professionalization relates because it is aimed at ensuring the quality of the service provided by early childhood educators. Getting professionals to work effectively together is like building bridges from one group to another – with professionals helping promote good working relationships between them.
One important aspect of professionalism is the recognition and development of professional standards. These standards, which define the boundaries between “professional” and non-professional practice, are a primary means through which professionalism is demonstrated (Hargreaves, 2000). In contrast to professionalism, professionalization has its roots in self-help. It involves taking responsibility for oneself instead of waiting for someone else to solve their problems or insisting they do. It also means developing personal skills and strategies to help one succeed in whatever endeavor they choose.
Traditional Concepts relationship to ECE and Leadership
The field of early childhood education and leadership is traditionally considered to be relatively unsophisticated. It can be challenging for people to imagine that the practices used for decades to educate children are adapted for use by leaders. However, many of these same principles can be applied in both contexts. In both early childhood education and leadership, responsibility is paramount. Both professions are about helping children develop their skills and abilities to become successful adults. Both disciplines also require a high level of empathy, allowing them to understand what others need and want. To be influential leaders, professionals must also respect their employees and colleagues.
The most significant difference between early childhood education and leadership is that they are not always structured similarly. While there is a structure in early childhood education programs like preschools and daycare centers. No such system exists in leadership programs like business schools or executive training programs (Hargreaves, 2000). However, this does not mean there are no ways for professionals working in either field to apply the same concepts educators use when educating children or leaders when training staff members in their work environment.
For instance, in education, educators need to provide their students with information on how to become more successful in whatever job they do. They must clearly articulate why certain things are essential for success at life stages (Feeney et al., 2008). Teachers and leaders alike need to understand that children are different from adults; therefore, there will always be different ways of teaching them knowledge about themselves and others around them.
Connection Between the Concepts of Professionalism and Leadership
Professionalism is a critical component of leadership, as it helps to establish trust and confidence between leaders and their followers. There are specific ways that professionalism and leadership support one another: First, Professionalism requires leadership because it is an essential part of being a professional (Unifying Framework ECE, 2020, March 9).
A leader who lacks the skills or experience to lead needs to have someone who can bring their team up to speed on the basics, such as how to present themselves professionally or deal with conflict in a productive way. Second, it requires leadership because it requires respect for rules and regulations that help ensure a successful working relationship between employees and management. Without these rules, employees will not be incentivized to follow them, which could lead to chaos or even violence on the job site. Lastly, Professionalism requires leadership because it is based on mutual trust between employees and management, which is only possible when both sides feel that they are treated fairly by their peers and not by those who hold higher positions.
The Role of a Leader
The leader’s role is to ensure that the organization’s policies, programs, and practices are aligned with the organization’s mission. The leader’s Role in public policy is to ensure that the organization clearly understands its mission and goals based on what it does best (Unifying Framework ECE, 2020, March 9). In addition to aligning the organization’s policies with its mission, leaders need to understand how these policies will be implemented so that they can be effective.
Leaders must be proactive in creating opportunities for professional development by creating programs that allow employees to develop new skills or expand their knowledge base. It will help ensure that employees can keep up with changes in technology which can be disruptive when not adequately managed (Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association, 2020, September). The goal of this program should be to provide employees with opportunities for professional growth to become more effective members of society. Leaders must also ensure that research is conducted on topics such as employee satisfaction or customer service trends to understand what’s happening inside their organizations accurately.
Beliefs and Values of Various Leaders in ECE
In the field of early childhood education, there are two leaders who I would like to articulate. The first is John Dewey, who wrote in 1903 that “the child is born with an instinctive desire to develop itself.” (Feeney et al., 2008). He also believed that “education begins in life” and that it should be “a lifelong process of growth in which the child develops habits of thought and action.” The second leader is Margaret Mead. She believed that children’s minds were not as fixed as adults and that they could be shaped by learning through play (Feeney et al., 2008). She also believed that children should be taught about their environment so they can make informed decisions about what activities are appropriate for them to do. I think these beliefs are important because I want my children to feel safe and happy, even when they are not feeling well or have made bad choices. I also want them to develop a love for learning and helping others through play.
The Difference and Leadership Changes in Career Stages
Career stages are a way to understand how one’s career develops over time. Each stage has challenges and rewards, and leadership changes as one moves through each. The first stage is the entry-level position, in which one might learn the ropes of their new Role or work with a mentor or coach to help one get started (Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association, 2020, September). In this stage, one will learn the basics about what it is like to be part of the company or organization and how it operates. They will gain essential skills like communication and teamwork that will serve them well as they move through the rest of their career.
Once one has gained enough experience from this first stage, it is time to start moving to another level within the organization. Think about how many different departments are within a company and how many people are involved in each department. As a new employee, this might be overwhelming at first—but remember that with each level comes more responsibility and more opportunity for advancement. At this point in your career, leadership roles become more prominent because they require more input from others, including other departments. This time is when some people start thinking about becoming managers.
Conclusion
Teaching is an ever-evolving profession that requires consistent care about knowledge and skills. Teachers need to clearly understand what Professionalism means in early childhood settings and the requirements for effective practice from a pedagogical perspective. Professionalism is a skill that can be learned but continues to grow and evolve throughout one’s career in early childhood education. Professional development is considered a critical component of effective teaching; therefore, continuing to build on the knowledge, skills, effectiveness and Professionalism of teachers is essential in ensuring quality outcomes for children.
References
Feeney, S., Freeman, N. K., & Moravcik, E. (2008). Teaching the NAEYC code of ethical conduct: Activity sourcebook. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Hargreaves, A. (2000). Four ages of Professionalism and professional learning. Teachers and teaching, 6(2), 151-182.
Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association (2020). Power to the Profession (Video). YouTube. Web.
Unifying Framework ECE (2020). Releasing the Unifying Framework. (Video). YouTube. Web.