Final thoughts

You have come to the end of my blog now and I hope you have learnt some new and interesting things about child poverty in New Zealand. I know I have. It is good to see that non-government agencies are releasing reports that relect was on how to end child poverty as well as yearly update on how New Zealand is doing with child poverty. These reports keeps the government on their toes and ensure that they are doing the best for kiwi children. Also stated in the blog is how important the early years are for a childrens learning and development. This is a key message that early childhood teachers need to be aware of and early detection of child poverty can ensure the child has the best start to life.  I leave you now with a quote from Mother Teresa

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God” (Goodreads, n.d.).

References
Goodreads. (n.d.). Quotes About Poverty. Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/poverty

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What pedagogical implications does poverty have on early childhood education?

Early childhood education is affected by society in many ways as shown in this Te Whāriki model that is based on Bronfenbrenner ecological theory. As shown in the picture, what happens in the outer layers will ultimately affect each and every child. The outer layers need to provide a safe and nurturing environment so each child is able to reach their full potential.

Poverty is affecting our children's ability to reach their full potential.

“Neuroscientists said many children growing up in very poor families with low social status experience unhealthy levels of stress hormones, which impair their neural development. That effect is on top of any damage caused by inadequate nutrition and exposure to environmental toxins” (Cookson, 2008).

Early childhood teachers need to be aware of the damage poverty can cause on a child brain development. These issues that are cause by poverty such as lack of healthy foods, exposure to cold damp houses and a settle lifestyle can cause havoc to the brains architecture. “By the age of 3, a baby’s brain has reached almost 90 percent of its adult size” (Child welfare information gateway, 2009). Therefore the first years of a child life are very significant, as mentioned in "The first 1000 days" report. The earlier someone intervenes in a child life that is affected by poverty, the more likely the child will be able to reach their full potential and have a great start to life.

Early childhood teachers have a unique opportunity to observe children within their care and ensure that they are meeting their developmental milestone. If children are struggling to meet their milestone, there may be many reasons for this,but one of these reasons could be caused by child poverty. Qualified early childhood teachers need to acknowledge child poverty as a social issue, that is affecting children’s learning and development. Early childhood teachers also need to  know what is going on at home to be able to assist family living in child poverty, therefore good collaboration skills with parents and whānau are essential. When a child has been identified as living with effects of poverty, teachers could direct assistances from outside agencies such as Salvation Army, or Child Poverty Action Groups.

In low socio-economic communities equity funding is given from the government to licensed early childhood education services (Ministry of Education, n.d.). The purpose of this funding is to reduce educational gaps within different socio-economic communities,and to improve participation within early childhood education as well as support early childhood centres with their educational achievement (Ministry of Education, n.d.). This funding is one way to allow children living in poverty to attend early childhood centres and reap the benefits through their learning and development. However, educating parents and whānau on ways to improve their child's learning such as supplying correct food, bedding, and medical care needs to be discussed.

Te Whāriki (1996) States that “Policies, procedures, and supervision should ensure that children are kept safe and feel secure within a safe environment, where symptoms of danger or abuse are promptly recognised. (Ministry Of Education, 1996, p. 46). Te Whāriki (1996) acknowledges all children have the right to have a warm safe environment to learn and develop. Qualified early childhood teachers have a professional obligation to look after a child that is in their care, and to ensure that child has support at home and community.

Poverty will always affect early childhood as long as it is an issues in New Zealand. Therefore early childhood teachers near to be aware of the signs of poverty and what to do when a child needs help. Poverty will affect a child development therefore early detection is the key to help children’s learning and development.

References

1,000 DAYS (n.d.). Why 1,000 days. Retrieved from http://www.thousanddays.org/about/

Child welfare information gateway. (2009). Understanding the effects of maltreatment on brain development. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/issue_briefs/brain_development/how.cfm

Cookson, C. (2008). Rachel's Democracy & Health News 947. Retrieved from
ProQuest Central database.

Ministry of Education. (n.d.). ECE equity funding - questions and answers. Retrieved from http://www.lead.ece.govt.nz/ManagementInformation/Funding/EquityFunding/ECEEquityFundingQuestionsAndAnswers.aspx

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki. He Whāriki mātaturanga mō ngā mōkopuna o Aotearoa/ Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.

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What is the government doing about putting an end to poverty?

The present government – National -  realised a green paper for Vulnerable Children in July 2011. This paper became the preliminary report of the white paper, (final copy) for Vulnerable Children. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett,  then released this white paper for Vulnerable Children on the 11th October 2012. Paula Bennett states "this white paper is bigger than politics; it is bigger than any one individual. It is not only for this generation of New Zealand children, but also for their children and their grandchildren" (PRESSWIRE, 2012). It is good to see that the government has taken the time look at the children in New Zealand and make a sustainable plan to help these vulnerable children, as well as future children.

On "The Nation" (a television programme), it  pointed out the green paper acknowledges that 163,000 children were at significant risk and the white paper however focused on only 20,000 to 30,000 children. "The Nation" interviewed Paula Bennett and asks “what happened to the other 130,000 children” (FRONTPAGELTD, 2012, a). Paula Bennett acknowledges they “are going to target those 20,000 to 30,000 children who they see at most risk” (FRONTPAGELTD, 2012, a). It is sad to know that the green paper had so many children they wanted to help but the white paper is only there for 20,000 to 30,000 children. I understand that Paula Bennett has a big job on her hands to help the valuable children in New Zealand. It’s a shame she cannot have a white paper to ensure all children will be helped… but it’s a start isn’t it.!!! I think that even though it a small amount, it will help a lot of children. Therefore children living in extreme poverty within New Zealand are begining to get the help they so urgently need.

The white paper for venerable children has come under criticism from other parties such as the Labour spokesperson for Social Development and Children,
Jacinda Ardern. She acknowledges that the white paper is a start, but states there is a massive missed opportunity for the government to help all children living in poverty (FRONTPAGELTD, 2012, b). She believes the focus on the 20,000 to 30,000 children is far too narrow. Jacinda Ardern wants the 270,000 children living in poverty to be included into this white paper (FRONTPAGELTD, 2012, b). This would be a wonderful thing if Labour could force the government to make this achievable. I know that things take time but  if we create a stronger base for the white paper to work with,  then later on I am sure that this paper will be benefit more children.

The Green Party has a bill called “take the step to help end child poverty” (Turei, n.d.). Metiria Turei acknologes “take the Step campaign is our (green party’s) Bill to ease poverty amongst our poorest kids” (Turei, n.d.). This bill is designed to give more money to those families who need it most. This bill states how the Green Party wants to help end child poverty in New Zealand. It is good to see the green party has a bill that they are bringing to parliament to help improve poverty.

All three parties have a view on how poverty should be improved within New Zealand. They are all aware of the well-being of children and understand that there needs to be big changes to create a better future for children. Each party needs to work with the government  on producing a long term  plan that will continuously  improve the well-being of children within New Zealand. Government also need to acknowledge and support  outside government agencies and discuss their solutions to child poverty, such as The Child Commissioner Report. By using all this information and educating New Zealand's  society, child poverty will then  begin to decrease because the government and outside government agencies are working together to help children in poverty.

References

FRONTPAGELTD. (2012, Oct 13, a). Paula Bennett on the White Paper part 1: The Nation, Oct 13, 2012 [video file].  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOupTtwbsx0

FRONTPAGELTD. (2012, Oct 13, b). Jacinda Ardern's response to Paula Bennett's White Paper: The Nation, Oct 13, 2012 [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZbpXdX8JV4

PRESSWIRE. (2012). White Paper for Vulnerable Children released. Retrieved from ProQuest Central Database.

Turei, M. (n.d.) Take the step to help end child poverty. Retrieved from http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/take-the-step-factsheet-green-party-2012.pdf

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