We invite you to look at a topical Atlantic article, The New Preschool Is Crushing Kids. It is an exploration of the effect of a focus on accountability, higher academic goals, and standards on the learning of young children. The author concludes, “here’s what the Finns, who don’t begin formal reading instruction until around age 7, have to say about preparing preschoolers to read: ‘The basis for the beginnings of literacy is that children have heard and listened … They have spoken and been spoken to, people have discussed [things] with them … They have asked questions and received answers.’ For our littlest learners, what could be more important than that?”
Further, we want to bring to your attention two recent articles about the eight percent attrition rate of U.S. teachers and why teachers leave the field. Read Frustration. Burnout. Attrition. It’s Time To Address The National Teacher Shortage and What Are The Main Reasons Teachers Call It Quits? While the articles focus on a K-12 teacher study, solutions put forward resonate for early care and education providers as well: compensation as well as support for teacher collaboration, autonomous curriculum development, and a voice in planning and policy.