Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/looking-back-events-that-have-shaped-our-current-child-care-delivery-system/5013535/
As we approach the dawning of the 21st century (which a few of us still believe won't take place until January 1, 2001), it is a good time for early childhood professionals to reflect upon our heritage and look ahead at our prospects. We conducted an unscientific survey of people whose opinions we have come to respect on landmark events and significant trends.In the January 2001 issue of Exchange, we will share these experts' opinions on the key trends that will shape the early childhood delivery system of 2010. In this article, we present their thoughts on the key events that have shaped our current delivery system.
In looking back, there were three happenings that were clearly viewed as the most influential . . .
World War II
Who would have expected a war to be viewed as most influential by kind-hearted early childhood advocates? But that is exactly what the majority of survey respondents opined. And their reasons for selecting World War II were interestingly diverse.
James Strickland (executive director of Child Inc., Austin, Texas): The most significant event to affect child care must have been World War II, during which it first became socially acceptable for mothers to work outside the home ...