France and the United States Essay

This paper seeks to come through comparative analysis of azoic(a) childhood upbringing indemnity amongst France and the United States. The discussion bequeath focus on the courses origin and what the classs were intended to achieve. The study will manner at the focus, of the programs, the beneficiaries and the woo. In analyzing the primaeval on childhood policy outcome in the two countries, the paper assesses the successes as well as the shortcomings of the policy programs. The national political relation has not developed a policy on early childhood rearing that is applicable in the nation.As opposed to the all-round(prenominal) early child pedagogy policy in France. The U. S. organization has whole been attendanting specific pre naturalise programs for those children from woeful neighborhoods and moo income families. This trend is also unmingled in the various states which have not been able to come up with early childhood policy that can be used uniformly by raising stakeholders throughout the state. Earl childhood l consumeing program is by and large left in the hands of private education providers through kindergartens. (Mitchell, A. , Ripple, C. , & Chanana, N. , 1998, p. 24).The first childhood education policy by the government is defined in its actions which in regulate the demand and supply of early childhood education services. In implementing early childhood policy, the government provides identify and indirect monetary subsidies to private providers of these services in the form of grants, contracts and tax incentives. Provision of direct and indirect financial support to parents of children in early childhood program. This support may be in the form of cash benefits, tax benefits to root fester the cost of this service and vouchers to pay for the service.The government also participates by regulating players in the field of early childhood education through legislation. early on childhood education program in the U. S are feed on a full day of part time nucleotide and they include pre-kindergartens, kindergartens, compensatory education programs and nursery schools. The other(a) programs that support early childhood education include child bring off centres, family support programs, before and after school programs, family type day superintend homes. Because there is no clear furrow between the government and private support in this sector.(OECD Country report, 2000, p. 5) at that place is no clear data concerning the cost of early childhood education in United States. However, the federal spending on the program has been very(prenominal) minimal compared to grade k-12. Studies in the year 2002 reveals that the states spent 2. 5 trillion dollars on early childhood education while the federal government spent 6. 5billion on early childhood program. This is in exclusion of pecuniary resource spent on pre-primary education for special students. This is the contrary of the case in France where the government full pecuniary resource its early childhood education program. so enrollment in early childhood program for the year 2002 was estimated at 750,000 with 85% enrolled in private institutions. In the United States, the government has a policy that ensures quality, affordability, and availability of child care for all families. The Child rush Bureau administers federal funds to states, territories, and tribes to assist eligible families including low-income families. The childcare bureaus provide childcare for children when the parents crap or participate in allowable education or training activities.Through the Child Care Bureau funds various Technical Assistance projects that promote quality, strengthen program nerve are supported. The funds are also used to finance equitable Start which is the presidents initiative towards early childhood education as well as carry out research to foster policy makers. The child care programs in the United States involved the administrators, parents and other stakeholders than in the case of France that is more regulated from above. concord to OECD report (2000, p. 21). near children are enrolled in private institutions compared to those in in the public eye(predicate) institutions with most parents winning their children for part time programs. This is illust gaitd in the table below showing enrolment in early childhood education programs in thousands. The only early childhood policy that received direct support by the federal government is the gate of Head start program to take care of those children from low income families. This program is funded by the federal government of the U. S since it caters for the children of the financially deprived parents from poor neighbourhood. According to OECD report (2000, p.18) The cost of funding this program has increased steadily, reaching almost $4. 7 billion in pecuniary year 1999 and $5. 27 billion in fiscal year 2000. This program was started as a strategy to deal with problems associated with children from poor neighbourhood. Dealing with their emotional, cognitive, societal and cognitive deficits ensured a well rounded individual who was prepared to travel along a life style that made them productive individuals from poor homes. The major(ip) aim is however to academically prepare students for their primary school studies. According to Mitchell, A. , Ripple, C. , & Chanana, N. (1998, p. 34-50).Research shows that those students who had undergone early childhood programs equivalent Head Start had less referrals for remedial classes or special education. These students were also more likely to run in regular classes throughout their public school years. Fewer retentions rate as preschool graduates were less likely to repeat grades. The students maintained excellent loads very few of them had failing grades in their school years. The students were acknowledged by their teachers as having greater social and emotional mat urity and had a high up probability of completing their high school studies without dropping out. repayable phylogenesis of positive side about school at an early age, these students had greater academic motivation, on-task behavior, capacity for independent work, and time spent on homework. lower berth incidence of absenteeism/detentions. Graduates had lower incidences of absenteeism and detentions. Preschool graduates had much higher scores on measures of attitude toward school and toward particular subject areas those who attended early childhood education are found to have stop self-esteem, greater internal venue of control compared to those who never attend the program.Preschool education is believed to help in preventing cast-off(prenominal) pregnancies among young school girls. The program is also believed to reduce incidences of indiscipline like drug abuse and delinquent acts among students, this some researchers believe is due to the introduction of rules and regula tions to students at an early age thusly contributing to positive upbringing. Due to improved self esteem developed from an early age, preschool graduates are more likely to participate in social activities like sports and community work.As opposed to those who did not attend early education, the beneficiaries have a better meaning for education and develop high future aspirations. This also contributes to the likelihood of them enrolling and completing their secondary education. These benefits of early childhood education are extending to the baseball club as beneficiaries have a higher possibility of securing better paying jobs hence reducing dependency in the society. There is high unlikelihood that these people will engage in antisocial behavior in the society. (Morgan, G. , Azer, S. , Costley, J. , Genser, A., Goodman, I. , Lombardi, J. , and McGimsey, B. , 1993, p. 45, 78). The Head Start program is however accused of contributing to variety in the education arena as those who are considered financially abiding have been ignored. This is no longer a shortfall in France as their early childhood policy caters for all children despite their family contexts. The increasing calculate of mothers securing jobs is however increasing government participation in provision of early childhood programs especially in those kindergartens which are integrated in public primary schools.For instance, District of Columbia is made kindergarten attendance a jural requirement for children. (OECD Country report, 2000, p. 14) The diagram below illustrate the increasing tot up of working mothers with children under age six due U. S policy on Early childhood education and care between 1960 and 1999. in spite of lack of comprehensive policy regarding early childhood education, a portion of expenditure has been incurred in supporting efforts towards achieving the same. The figures reported by OECD report( 2000, p. 23) is an illustration of cost of efforts employed by U.S to achieve ECEC as compared between 1992 and 1999 eonian dollar reported in millions of dollars. As opposed to the United States, France has a clear government policy regarding earl childhood education. The program is publicly funded and caters for those children between the ages of 2-6 year olds known as Ecole Maternelle. The system has specific programs for those children under age collar and it is administered under the Ministry of Education delivered under education auspices of the ministere de la Jeunesse, de lEducation nationale et de la Recherche.(Oberhuemer, P. , & Ulich, M. , 1997, p. 27). These programs are freely provided by the government for eight hours during the day including breaks like lunchtime. Extension beyond these hours is optional and those parents who work for longer hours can pay for additional hours that their children are taken care of at early childhood education centres. Since these programs are meant to benefit children and their parents who earn poo rly, the additional charges levied on parents take into consideration the parents income. any child starting school has to go through ecole maternelle which is the preparatory train in the education system. (OECD Country report, 2004, p. 4-7). Early preschool education is divided into three contributions namely the little section, middle section and large section. The little section is meant for three year olds, the middle section is for four-year-olds and large section is for five-year-olds. twain year olds belong to very little section.France is also committed to empowering the low income parents just like Head Start in the United States hence the government organizes bridging activities for those who are about to start schooling in poor neighborhoods. Such a program is supposed to familiarize the learners with the academic in readiness for school system. The table below shows the trends in the percentage of children in the ecole maternelle by age as from the year 1960-2002 acc ording to French background report in 2003.