Shop by Topic
Shop by Product
ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues
<< Previous Issue
| View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> 
Bettye Caldwell, 1925–2016
April 20, 2016
A teacher of young children, more than anything else, must be able to love children unconditionally, to be able to communicate to them, without any patronizing and without any strings attached, that she is their friend—for friendship, it must be understood, is just another word for love.
-Ashley Montagu (1905-1999), anthropologist
-Ashley Montagu (1905-1999), anthropologist
Bettye Caldwell, one of the most influential pioneers in early childhood education, died on Monday, April 18. A memorial service will held on Monday, April 25, at the First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Bettye was always a great friend of the magazine, always cheerleading and supporting us, writing for us, and sending ideas our way. Most recently, at the age of 90, she served as one of the esteemed reviewers when Exchange recognized emerging leaders in our field.
Bettye has been described as "a woman ahead of her time — usually about 30 years!" This pioneering spirit was displayed early on when, at Baylor University, she was a member of the band baton team —the first in the country to employ fire batons.
She was also one of the first researchers to be aware of the implications of child care, when 50 years ago she wrote, "It is a ‘sleeping giant’ just ready to awaken and move around, jolting many of us into awareness.” At Syracuse University Bettye, along with her sidekick Alice Honig, designed an initiative integrating health and school readiness programs for low-income preschoolers: the Children's Center, which would become a model for the Head Start program.
Through their research, Bettye and Alice were keenly aware that most infants developed at the same pace for about the first year. At that point, intellectual and social growth advanced or receded based on the atmosphere surrounding children.
“What do they need?” Caldwell asked. “They need to be loved. They need to be spoken to, all the time. They need opportunities to explore. They need to be safe and to feel safe. They need stable figures in their lives. They need new experiences. They need to repeat experiences they enjoy. They need someone to interpret their new experiences in the world, verbally. They need someone to help them find words for what they see in the world. They need an opportunity to feel love and to feel part of a family. Their wants are fairly simple, and these are needs we’d like to think would be met for every child.”
Later, Bettye moved to the University of Arkansas – Little Rock, where she established an early education project at Kramer School, which served children from preschool through age 12. Kramer School provided a base for her continuing research on children and families.
Over her long and distinguished career, Bettye earned many honors including being elected President of NAEYC. She was named the Ladies Home Journal "Woman of the Year" in 1978 and was honored at a ceremony joined by Betty Furness, Maya Angelou, Kate Smith, and Betty Ford. Her far-reaching contributions to the well-being of children and their families was recognized in 2001 when she received one the most coveted honors in her field, the Dolly Madison Award, whose past recipients include Dr. Benjamin Spock and Edward Ziegler.
Bettye continued her commitment to the field into her 90's. She once wrote to President Obama, “If there’s anything an 88-year-old woman who has trouble walking can do to help, I’m here.”
We all owe Bettye a deep debt of gratitude.
ExchangeEveryDay
Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
What is ExchangeEveryDay?
ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
Comments (17)
Displaying All 17 CommentsFairbanks, Alaska, United States
truly an inspiration for us all
Emerald Hills School
Hollywood , Florida , United States
Very sad news! My condolences to Bettye's family and friends! She has been an inspiration to all of us in the education field working with young children!
She's been a wonderful mentor and leader!
We'll miss her!
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Bettye Caldwell's work and wisdom is also well known and valued in Australia. You know the impact of a person's contribution to early childhood education and care when their ideas and words still resonate with us and continue to offer powerful insights into our work with children, families and communities.
Gokul kidz preschools pvt ltd
Thane, Maharashtra, India
Sad news indeed! May her soul rest in peace.
The Family Schools Inc.
Brewster, Ma. 02631, United States
Bettye helped join our work of loving and teaching young children to the gravitas of the medical community. In so doing she helped us all to a significant measure of self respect and a move away from being seen as a non professional child minder. I will always appreciate her easy availability for a good chat. She will be missed.
The Early Education Center
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Thank you for the email article on Bettye. By the time I got to the end of the article I had chicken skin. Another shining star no longer on earth but in the heavens. Thank you Bettye for your dedication and passion for children and their families.
OMEP-USA
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
I remember speaking with Bettye Caldwell the first time on an elevator at an NAEYC conference when she was president. I was impressed with her white-framed glasses! In Atlanta in 1994, after I spending three days of the NAEYC conference in bed, I went to eat my first meal. Bettye came along and asked if she could sit with me. I was so pleased and honored. And in 2009, she recommended me as an editor of a column in Young Children on the history of early childhood education. I am still co-chairing that welcome task. Best of all, this EED quotes Bettye about what infants need - something we all now know and are trying to implement in every program for very young children. She has left us a legacy that will live on. We owe her so much.
St. Louis, MO, United States
Because Bettye Caldwell was just one state south of Missouri in Arkansas, we were so fortunate to have her visit and work with us on many professional development projects. She was brilliant and practical and made everyone understand how important educators are to the development of young children. She helped us write the first set of licensing rules for group infant care and the basic tenets that she taught us are still part of the rules today. Thank you, Bettye.
Student
San Diego, California, United States
What a Legacy to leave behind, Rest in Peace Bettye Caldwell. Thank you for your life long contribution to children and their families. You have left an imprint in our world that will never be forgotten.
University of Arizona
United States
Thank you for this inspiring tribute to Bettye Caldwell. She made a difference for untold numbers of children.
NYC Administration for Children's Services
New York, New York, United States
A moving tribute to a genuine pioneer!
Newton , NJ, United States
A life well lived.
Bloomfield College
Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States
One of our greatest early childhood educators and thinkers has died. How sad!
Louisville, KY, United States
Thank you for reminding us of the wonderful contributions Betty Caldwell
made to the Early Childhood field. She will be missed & was an inspiration to all all of us.
United States
Bettye Caldwell was an outstanding Early Childhood Educator. I used her "thoughts and materials" throughout my years of teaching young college students in Vermont! She was a true leader for young children! Colin Ducolon
Pennsylvania, United States
A lovely tribute to a dedicated woman, though I never had the pleasure to know her. This quote from your tribute is what I believe early childhood education is all about: “What do they need?” Caldwell asked. “They need to be loved. They need to be spoken to, all the time. They need opportunities to explore. They need to be safe and to feel safe. They need stable figures in their lives. They need new experiences. They need to repeat experiences they enjoy. They need someone to interpret their new experiences in the world, verbally. They need someone to help them find words for what they see in the world. They need an opportunity to feel love and to feel part of a family. Their wants are fairly simple, and these are needs we’d like to think would be met for every child.” My sympathies to her family and friends.
La Trobe University
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
A beautiful tribute to a tireless advocate for children, our condolences to family and friends from Australia...
Post a Comment