ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

We do place an enormous burden on young children. We expect them to spend 8 to 10 hours in a daycare/school setting and keep it all together. Now there is a huge push for government funded universal pre-k, which equates to curriculum and testing and that just means more children will face suspension and expulsion and non-developmentally appropriate programs. We are not teaching children, we are caring for children--and all facets of those children---physical, emotional, social, and yes cognitive---they go hand in hand.

I think its very important to go beyond simply understanding the need to be more sensitive to this issue and to "try to do better" There is no question in my mind that this is one result of the increase of inappropriate academic and behavioral expectations pushed down into our programs. And I do not see organizations like NAEYC and ACF fighting against this push; in fact, they seem to me to be a part of the problem. If we shifted our attention from increased academic and behavioral outcomes, to more social and emotional outcomes, and far more art, music, outdoor, and play activities, we would be more able to address the needs of these children.

It is very heartening to see that Exchange is addressing the issue of how to avoid expulsions, a topic I have rarely heard addressed by anyone, even as the rates of suspensions have continued to rise. My concern with this problem, led my colleague, Denisha Jones, and me to write a blog post about the need for more attention to be paid to this issue. I should have known that Exchange was already doing something about it. Thank you, Exchange! You can read the blog post at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-levin/preschool-suspensions-you_b_8257788.html