Child and Youth Care Forum

, Volume 27, Issue 1, pp 21–37 | Cite as

Early child care and education: Lessons from the french

  • Mary Ann P. McGovern
Articles

Abstract

Recent developments in welfare reform legislation and specifically, the drive to move welfare recipients off public assistance and into the workforce, have focused attention on child care programs for children 0–6 years old. Description is provided of the comprehensive French system (itscreches andecoles maternelles), and the training required of their caregivers and teachers. Comparisons are drawn with U.S. efforts in this area and implications are discussed in terms of how to improve our early child care and education programs and break the cycle of poverty. Specific policy recommendations include implementing preschool programs for all 4–6 year olds and increasing the availability of quality child care programs for children 0–3 years.

Keywords

Child Care Early Childhood Education Head Start Preschool Teacher Child Care Center 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Boisdon, T. (1992).AU CIEP (Centre International d’Etudes Pedagogiques) Nation et identité nationale en France et en Allemagne. Education & Pedagogies, 14, 27.Google Scholar
  2. Boyer, E. L. (1991).Ready To Learn. Princeton, NJ: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
  3. Casper, L. M., Hawkins, M., & O’Connell, M. (1991).Who’s minding the kids: Child care arrangements. (Current Population Reports, Series P-70, Household Economic Studies, 76). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
  4. Ebb, N. (1994).Child care tradeoffs: States make painful choices.Washington, D.C.:Children’s Defense Fund.Google Scholar
  5. Frede, E. (1995). The role of program quality in producing early childhood program benefits. In R. Behrman (Ed.),The future of children, Vol. 5 (3), 115–1323. Los Altos, CA: The David & Lucile Packard Foundation.Google Scholar
  6. Gelb, S. A., & Bishop, K. D. (1992). Contested terrain: early childhood education in the United States. In G. A. Woodill, J. Bernhard, & L. Prochner (Eds.),International handbook of early childhood education (pp. 503–528). New York: Garland Publishing.Google Scholar
  7. Gomby, D. (1995). Long-term outcomes of early childhood programs: Analysis and recommendations. In R. Behrman (Ed.),The future of children, Vol. 5 (3), 6–24. Los Altos, CA: The David & Lucile Packard Foundation.Google Scholar
  8. Hayes, C. D., Palmer, J. L., & Zaslow, M. J. (Eds.). (1990).Who Cares for America’s Children? Child care policy for the 1990’s. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
  9. Helburn, S., Culkin, M. L., Howes, Bryant, D., Clifford, R., Kagan, S.L., Cryer, D., Peisner-Feinberg, E., Morris, J., Mocan, N., C., Phillipsen, L., Burchinal, M., & Rustici, J. (1995, April).Cost, quality, and child outcomes in child care centers, Public Report. Denver: Economics Department, University of Colorado at Denver.Google Scholar
  10. Hofferth, S. L., Brayfield, A., Deich, S., & Holcomb, P. (1991).National Child Care Survey, 1990. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press.Google Scholar
  11. Kamerman, S. (1991). Child care policies and programs: An international overview.Journal of Social Issues, 47(2), 179–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Kamerman, S. B., & Kahn, A. (1991).Child care, parental leave, and the under 3’s: Policy innovation in Europe. New York: Auburn House.Google Scholar
  13. Kamerman, S. B., & Kahn, A. (1995).Starting Right: How America neglects its youngest children and what we can do. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  14. Lee, V., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Schur, E. (1980). Does Head Start work: A 1-year follow-up comparison of disadvantaged children attending Head Start, no preschool, and other preschool programs.Developmental Psychology, 24(2), 210–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Lee, V., & Loeb, S. (1994). Where do Head Start attendees end up? One reason why preschool effects fade out. Report from the University of Michigan.Google Scholar
  16. Magnani, D., & Galvin, M. (Co-chairs). (1995).Children First: A plan for an early care and education system for Massachusetts. Report of Special Commission on Early Childhood. Malden, MA: Massachusetts Department of Education.Google Scholar
  17. McGovern, M. A. (1993). Education and care in early childhood.The OECD Observer (No. 184), 21–23.Google Scholar
  18. McKey, R.H., Condelli, L., Granson, H., Barnett, B., McConkey, C., & Platz, M. (1985).The impact of Head Start on children, families, and communities. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS Pub. No. (OHDS) 85-31193).Google Scholar
  19. Ministere de L’Education Nationale Direction des Ecoles. (1992).Le projet d’ecole. Incollection Une Ecole Pour L’Enfant des Outils Pour Les Maitres. Paris: Hachette.Google Scholar
  20. Morgan, G., Azer, S. L., Costley, J. B., Genser, A., Goodman, I.F., Lombardi, J., & McGimsey, B. (1993).Making a career of it: The state of states report on career development in early care and education. Boston: The Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education at Wheelock College.Google Scholar
  21. Moss, P. (1988).Child care and equality of opportunity. Consolidated Report to the European Commission. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities.Google Scholar
  22. Moss, P. (1990).Child care in the European Communities 1985–1990. Women of Europe Supplements (31). Brussels: Commission of the European Communities. 179–196.Google Scholar
  23. National Association for the Education of Young Children (1996).Guidelines for preparation of early childhood professionals. (NAEYC Publication #212). Washington, D.C.: Author.Google Scholar
  24. Olmstead, P. (1989). Early childhood care and education in the United States. In P. Olmstead & D. P. Weikart (Eds.),How nations serve young children: Profiles of child care and education in 14 countries (pp. 365–406). Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Press.Google Scholar
  25. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (1993, March 29–30). Meeting of French National Experts addressing “Public policies for early childhood care and education.” Paris, France.Google Scholar
  26. Pascal, C., Bertram, T., & Heaslip, P. (1991).Comparative directory of initial training for early yeards teacher. Worcester, UK: The Association of Teacher Education in Europe-Early Years Working Group.Google Scholar
  27. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C.A. § 601et seq. (1996).Google Scholar
  28. Polakow, V. (1993).Lives on the edge. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
  29. Polakow, V. (1997, April). Who cares for the children? Denmark’s unique public child care model.Phi Delta Kappan, 78(8), 604–610.Google Scholar
  30. Richardson, G., & Marx, E. (1989).A welcome for every child: How France achieves quality in child care: Practical ideas for the United States. New York: French American Foundation.Google Scholar
  31. Schweinhart, L. J., & Weikart, D. P., (Eds.). (1993).Significant benefits: The High/Scope Perry Preschool study through age 27. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Press.Google Scholar
  32. The Children’s Defense Fund (1996).The state of America’s children. Washington, D.C.: Author.Google Scholar
  33. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1990 Census of Population and Housing, summary tape file 3. Washington D.C.: Author.Google Scholar
  34. United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (1994).Children in the nation. Washington, D.C.: Children’s Defense Fund.Google Scholar
  35. Weikart, D. P. (1996). Impact of early education on school performance and productivity. Research report. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Education Research Foundation.Google Scholar
  36. Whitebook, M., Howes, C., & Phillips, D. (1989).The national child care staffing study: Who cares? Child care teachers and the quality of care in America. Oakland, CA: The Child Care Employee Project.Google Scholar
  37. Ziegler, E. (1993, August 20–24). Reshaping early childhood intervention to be a more effective weapon against poverty. Speech delivered at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (101st) Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Human Sciences Press, Inc 1998

Authors and Affiliations

  • Mary Ann P. McGovern
    • 1
  1. 1.Salem State College

Personalised recommendations