Thursday, September 18, 2014
Are You a Risk Taker?
When it comes to being a risk taker I think I can say that is kinda what I like to do whether its in the classroom or at home during my daily life I can say I am a risk taker. As far as my program goes I am satisfied and have no problems with it but as far as teaching as a profession goes I would say that I am far from pleased. For one the support and funding we receive is mediocre at best and two is we are definitely not paid a wage worthy of the service we provide. I think that it is time that society wakes up and realizes the importance of early childhood education. I would say that I fall under the category of willing to challenge the status quo for something that I truly believe needs changing. I am willing to advocate and stick my necks out if I feel that it will help children receive everything that they could possibly need to make their educational experiences here in the program meaningful.
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Hi Maika,
ReplyDeleteI just tried to post here - so if a second post comes up - it is the previous post and hopefully resembles what I am saying here :)
How are you specifically a risk-taker? Are you defined as a risk-taker in terms of your practice and position at your current program? Or is risk-taker to you something personally defined and enacted?
How can you specifically challenge the staus quo as a risk-taker? Are there ways you work as a risk-taker within your program that could act a vehicle to disrupting the status quo? In what ways might you engage as advocate and activist in your own practice to influence the field beyond your position and program? And how could these ideas influence how you define yourself as a director? Can a director use his position as a way to disrupt the status quo? How?
Cheers,
Jeanne
It’s good to have risk takers in a profession, especially one like ours, but I wonder, have you taken risks or have challenged the status quo in order to help our children receive the best experiences they can as young children? Is there anything that you would feel hesitant to advocate for, or a specific population that you would be hesitant in challenging (in regards to ECE)? Why or why not? Also, how could we, as educators, as those who already have an understanding of the importance of early childhood education, challenge the status quo and advocate for our kids? Out of all the things that could be advocated for, what would you say should be the main priority? Public funding for preschools? Better wages for teachers? Quality?
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if you have come across any problems from being a risk taker at work? Do you voice your opinion even when it opposes other coworkers? Does being a male make your voice be heard more than your female counterparts or vice versa? I remember when I worked at as program where we had a make coworker, everything and anything he said or did was gold even if a woman said or did the exact same thing, his meant more.
ReplyDeleteI'm stoked for you that you are satisfied with your program because I thought it was more common to find that people would not be satisfied with some aspect of their program. If you weren't satisfied with something, would you voice our opinion, especially if it meant that you would be going up against your co workers, or even your boss? Would you still be willing to take that risk of not fitting in with everyone?
We need risk takers! I feel that most people do not take this field seriously, and think that the reason why most of the people are in ECE is because it is "easy" and that they just need a degree in something, but they do not realize all the work that comes with it. With the pay, I wish that teachers were paid more, especially in this economy and living in Hawaii too, it is quite hard. Do you feel that at times, there are moments where you feel that you should not voice your opinion? I have that problem sometimes at work, because I do not really like confrontation, I tend to not like to tell someone that they are doing things wrong and like to tell my co teachers to do the dirty job for me. Would you approach them and tell them yourself?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the problems in our profession and that schools should gain more funds and workers should be paid more. I don't understand why people do not see how challenging and important this job is. I hope that in the future the preschools would get more funds and we would get paid more for what we do. I know that many people think that this major is easy and its a way for them to take the easy way in life... but its not easy. Its a lot of hard work, and it takes a lot of love and passion. Have you shared your opinions at your workplace?
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