Exchange Classic: The Interplay between Theory and Observation

In the summer of 2002, following an ExchangeEveryDay post about theory and observation, Exchange readers engaged in a lively debate about observing without theoretical context. After considerable back-and-forth, early childhood professor and advocate Alice Sterling Honig (1929-2023) had this to say:

A fine teacher understands ECE deeply and translates the difficult concepts of theorists into practical language harmonious with the experiences of those learning to interact in more responsive, subtle, ways to promote secure attachment, language flourishing, prosocial skills, etc.

Yet if teachers do not ever hear the special vocabulary of our field, then it is no wonder that parents and legislators would think we are not really ‘professionals.’

Let me give a good example from my own work when parents pressured us to start too-early toilet learning with their young toddlers. We told them seriously and slowly about how important it is that there is completion of myelinization of the great motor neurons from the Betz cells of the motor cortex of the brain all the way down to the anal and urethral sphincters. The white fatty sheaths of myelin then permit a neuron to fire much faster and with voluntary control. When this myelinzation is completed fully varies for different children. This may take up to 24 months. Thus, beginning toilet learning too early would not be fair to a little child. We explained every word in our talk BUT, the parents were truly impressed by our knowledge base and more ready to listen to reasonable ideas about what signs to look for in child behaviors, such as words for toileting, evidence that proprioceptive cues from the sphincters (and again we explained in down-to-earth detail!) were being attended to by the toddler, etc. so that together, parents and caregivers could work toward the desired goals of toilet learning. In our field, we will never be considered professionals unless we are willing to trust in the ability and passion for their work that excellent caregivers bring to the amazing adventure of helping little ones grow and flourish in our care and also trust in their willingness to learn ever more deeply about growth and development of young children.

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