ECE 523 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education

This course explores the historical and philosophical antecedents of educational programs for young children, and historical views of childhood. Influential pioneers in early education and philosophies will be reviewed. The course also examines the impact of history on current educational practices. The interactions among political strategy, children’s programming, and teacher preparation regulations will be discussed. The course purpose is to provide early childhood educators with a context for understanding and evaluating current practices. The context for the development of a reasoned and coherent personal philosophy of caring for and teaching children, based on ethical professional practice and decision-making will be examined. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours