Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Speaking with the brother in-law this week provided me with some pretty interesting information about issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals in Morocco. He explained that most of the teachers in Morocco were male teachers because mostly the women's job is to tend to the family and farming duties. Most young girls do not receive more than what is equivalent to an elementary school education in America because they will have to leave schooling to help out with basic family needs such as helping to raise children or farming. Recently, Mr. Ezibe explained that there has been a recent push to empower and education families of young girls to extend their education and continue with schooling pass the elementary grades. This has pushed for more female educators to be present beyond the infant to preschool years.

This movement has created opportunity for more professional development geared at educating female teachers to advocate for young girls to desire and education and continue to attend school and help families find ways to manage issues that may arise of they decide to keep their daughter in school longer then they had originally planned. There are workshops and conferences to help mentor these female teachers so that they can be confident and prepare for the tough journey ahead of changing the dynamic of a culture that has existed for decades. 

My professional goal include being a mentor to other teachers and helping realize their impact on young children and their families. I want to help, encourage and inspire teachers to see the value young children bring to the field of education and teach them how to utilize what they bring to maximize their learning experience. My hope is that every teacher has that "ah ha" moment where they see how influential they are the the health and development of a young child. I dream of a day where children are treated as children and mot miniature adults. The hardest part is being able to make that deep connection with teachers so that they are open to explore new concepts and ideas that maybe different from their own. I admire the women who are taking this challenge in Morocco to be the futrue role model for a generation of young girls who might have a change at a higher education and maybe the first girl in their home to attend a grade higher then what we call elementary.