Early Childhood Educators

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Early childhood educators teach and care for young children, ages birth to nine. This is a special period of human experience and development, requiring special attention and specialized knowledge of care. Families and professional educators provide care for young children out of love and because of the unique nature of this special time in human development.

Professional early childhood educators who advance the human rights values of love, respect and dignity, and the sanctity of human life are both early childhood educators and human rights educators. We are part of a larger human rights movement, working as both community participants and as educators.

In the United States and Canada early childhood educators are underpaid and lack the power as a profession required to set the standards and funding requirements that we know are required to deliver quality early education and care for all. Many early educators are poorly prepared, lacking access to the professional training, professional bodies and resources required to carry out the values of loving care and human rights education. Additionally, many early care providers are employed as service providers, not as educators.

For the values of loving care and human rights education to be realized, early childhood educators should have the full benefits of a liberal arts and sciences education, including having a strong background in human development and psychology. We should be part of a well-regulated profession, with standards set according to best practices and the expert knowledge of our profession.

In accordance with human rights values, all those who work in early education and care should be paid wages worthy of human dignity.