Early Childhood Educators Must Use Their Voices to Speak for Children: Why Teaching Preschool Has Always Been Political Opinion School/Education

According to Ann Pelo in Rethinking Schools’ Embracing a Vision of Social Justice in Early Childhood Education, the founder of the social-justice oriented Reggio Emilia education approach, Loris Malaguzzi, believed to create a society that was rooted in justice, a society must start with justice for its youngest members. Lectures of Early Childhood Education icon Maria Montessori, in the book Education for Peace, highlights Montessori’s lifelong dedication to peace internationally.

Those of us in Early Childhood Education are underpaid, but have a purpose. A purpose to children in homeless shelters, children in the migrant caravan from Honduras, economically oppressed children in urban America, the rural children of Appalachia and even the privileged children of Malibu.

We have historically been at the forefront of policies that create a better world – policies like universal child care, paid parental leave and affordable housing. We must continue to raise our voices and insist that all people, regardless of race, ability, nationality, gender or class, be treated not just with respect, but with kindness.

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