2011 May » Diane E. Levin

Concerns about the NAEYC Draft Position Statement on Technology and Young Children

May 242011

Greetings All,YOUNG CHILDREN AND I NEED YOUR HELP.I am deeply concerned about the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Draft Position Statement on Technology and Young Children—Ages 3 to 8 and its recommendations for technology use in early childhood programs. You can see the current draft here.Meg Merrill, a social worker and producer of the film, “Play Again”, has written a powerful editorial about her concerns with the current draft. She has given me permission to share it with you. It will give you salient examples of why many of us are sooooooooo concerned about the current Draft.

Defending the Early Years Project

The purpose of the DEY project is to rally educators to speak out on how current policies and reforms are affecting early childhood education. We'll be collecting evidence from across the country, surveying teachers, program directors, and child development experts, publishing our findings, and doing everything we can to make our collective voices heard. Please send me experiences you have had that you are willing to share. We will put them to good (anonymous) use.

DEY has an op-ed piece,“How ed policy is hurting early childhood education,” on Valerie Strauss’s Washington Post “Answer Sheet”.

Read Diane's related blogpost thanking California Governor Jerry Brown for his decision to reduce the number of standardized tests students take in school!

Also check out Diane's letter to the editor from The Boston Globe Sept. 28, 2011, in response to “Heartbreaking Point,” an article by Laurie Swope about her son’s troubles in the “new” No Child Left Behind kindergarten.