Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/celebrating-a-life-for-children/5014922/
What do you consider to be the most dramatic change in our field during your career? One of the most dramatic changes in the field of early childhood education has been the reduction of class sizes such as children per classroom and children per teacher. When I was assigned to my first classroom of five year olds, I faced 40 students. I wrote the following ten pledges that was required by my professor before we went into the field for what was called "Pre-Practice."My Ten Commandments for Pre-Practice - 1950
1. I shall prepare for 40 individual differences.
2. I shall be a guide and not a guard.
3. I shall learn as much daily as I expect to teach my children.
4. I shall be constantly alert and interested.
5. I shall respect the ideas and the attitudes of my co-workers.
6. I shall maintain my best physical health.
7. I shall keep daily contact with outside interests and activities.
8. I shall participate daily in recreation and relaxation.
9. I shall be happy daily and wear my prettiest smile.
10. I shall expect to get out of it just what I put into it.
He said that five of them pertained ...