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Summary
"This is an important book, one that deserves a wide audience. It provides valuable and compelling discussions of the political, practical, and moral issues involved in advocating for the increasing number of American children being raised without the basic care and opportunities necessary for healthy social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth and development." -- Harriet Alger, Dean, Early Childhood Division, State University of New York College at Cobleskill
As part of a re-examination of our societal values and obligations, this book focuses on illuminating the various meanings and issues of entitlement in relation to the basic needs of children in our society. Drawing on the perspectives of philosophy, law, education, sociology, child development, economics, and public health, the authors discuss the implications of their vision of entitlement for the well-being of America's children. The book also points out specific family and cultural contexts for the provision of entitlements for young children. And, finally, it turns our attention to the moral commitments needed to effect changes in policies and programs. In this way, the book provides valuable information for all who are trying to improve the nurture and education of America's children.
Mary A. Jensen received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is now Director of the School of Education and Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at the State University of New York, College at Geneseo. In addition to publications on child advocacy, a substantial portion of her recent work has focused on teacher education. She currently serves as President of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators as well as Editor of the SUNY Press series, Early Childhood Education: Inquiries and Insights.
Stacie G. Goffin is Senior Specialist, Early Childhood Care and Education, for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri. While working on this book, she was Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In addition to her publications on early childhood advocacy, early childhood education, and teacher education, Dr. Goffin is actively involved in effecting change on behalf of young children and their families in the metropolitan Kansas City community.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Prospects for Children's Well-Being
Mary A. Jensen
Part 1 Framing Entitlement For Young Children
Chapter 1 Entitlement in Early Care and Education: A Tale of Two Rights
Sharon L. Kagan
Chapter 2 Children's Welfare Rights Are Entitlements
Colin A. Wring
Chapter 3 The Concept of Entitlement and Its Incompatibility with American Legal Culture
Gary B. Melton and Megan Sullivan
Chapter 4 Well-Being, Entitlements, and Investment in Children: An Economic Perspective
Robert Haveman and Barbara Wolfe
Chapter 5 Children's Rights in a Civilized Society
Stuart N. Hart
Part 2 Issues of Entitlement For Young Children
Chapter 6 Equal Opportunity for Infants and Young Children: Myth or Reality?
Stanley I. Greenspan
Chapter 7 The Other Childhood: The Classroom Worlds of Poor Children
Valerie Polakow
Chapter 8 Health Care Entitlements for Children: Providing Health Services as if Children Really Mattered
Neal Halfon and Gale Berkowitz
Chapter 9 The Dilemma of Rural American Communities and Their Children
Gordon Hoke
Part 3 Providing Entitlement For Young Children Through Their Families
Chapter 10 Creating a Political Climate that Values and Supports Children
Cheryl D. Hayes
Chapter 11 Supporting Families in Their Creation of Contexts for Child Rearing
Bernice Weissbourd
Chapter 12 Building Villages: Lessons from Policy Entrepreneurs
Heather B. Weiss
Epilogue: Beyond Visions of Entitlement: Some Personal Reflections
