MUNCIE, Ind. - Two Ball State University faculty members were among 100 leading educators worldwide called on recently to draft international standards for early childhood education.

Lynn Staley, assistant professor of elementary education, and Josephine Desouza, assistant professor of biology, participated in the International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Care for the 21st Century.

Held in Zurich, Switzerland, the gathering was sponsored by The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) and Organization Mondiale pour l'Education Prescolaire (OMEP).

The symposium gave early childhood educators the opportunity to draft minimum standards for early childhood programs (children under age six) around the world. It also allowed educators to reach across language and cultural barriers and enhance communication.

"There is much to learn from colleagues beyond our borders." Staley said. "And I am particularly interested in bringing a global perspective to our students. These educators advocate for their children with persistence, perseverance, and profound dedication. It's an inspiration to those of us in the United States where we often take for granted our own resources."

Desouza said the educators from Spain, Chile and Colombia in particular, expressed a feeling of empowerment at the opportunity of being given a voice regarding critical educational issues.

The goals of the symposium were to develop a set of basic international guidelines or standards. These standards will be used in nations around the world for programs serving children under the age of six. They include:

• construction of an annotated listing of the guidelines or standards.
• exploration of the means to increase global awareness of the need for early childhood education.
• advocacy for global recognition and status of those who work as teachers and care givers of young children.

When published, the document will be distributed to governmental and nongovernmental organizations worldwide. Delegates hope that the guidelines will influence politicians and their decisions about early childhood care and education.

"In light of these guidelines, we also need to reflect more deeply on how we educate future teachers," Desouza said. "The need for culturally relevant teaching, developing an awareness of diversity and providing equitable learning environments is crucial in early childhood education."

By Roseanne Durril, Graduate Assistant

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about this story, contact Lynn Staley at (765) 285-8568 or lstaley@bsu.edu or Josephine Desouza at (765) 285-8856 or jdesouza@bsu.edu.)