Reclaiming Activist Approaches in the History of Early Childhood Education

• In Event: Roundtable Session 96
  In Roundtable Session: Revisiting Social Historical Constructions in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

This paper critiques mainstream texts on early childhood education justifying the field as a profession of a universal stage of early childhood and of play and child-centered pedagogy, while paying scant attention to thinkers and educators who have challenged dominant beliefs and practices for the education of marginalized children and their families. We argue that revisiting contributions made by early thinkers and educators who have worked for social and educational reforms provides invaluable implications for today’s early childhood teacher education. Drawing on Foucault’s (1977) genealogy, we reinterpret the work of Comenius, Owen, McMillan, and Montessori to highlight their activism. We discuss how reclaiming activist approaches expands the field’s identity by recognizing our forerunners’ service for the public good.

Authors

• Kyunghwa Lee, University of Georgia

• Jooeun Oh, University of Georgia

• Jaehee Kwon, University of Georgia - Athens

• Eun-Ae Son, University of Georgia