The Ecology of Childhood

Creating a World Worhty of Our Children

Edward Miller

Four main points we will address in the workshop:

1. What is the overall view of the child and his nature that is implicit in current education policymaking in the United States?
2. The hurried child: why are North Americans especially so intent on getting their children do learn and develop at a faster and faster pace?
3. Evidence that this U.S. perspective is gaining a foothold in Latin America and other parts of the world.
4. An alternative view—based on an ecological perspective—would result in very different kinds of education and child-rearing policies.

This workshop will be completely discussion-based, in that the leader will present some arguments and evidence relating to the topics outlined above and then will open the floor to comments and reflection by the workshop participants.� Thus, this workshop is most appropriate for teachers and school administrators who are interested in the practical application of educational policy issues like academic teaching in the early childhood curriculum, the uses and misuses of standardized tests, and the uses and misuses of technology in education.