I am glad that you said that you would not work at this person's center. On the other hand, if you want back-up to your point of view/philosophy/values, there is research out there to support you. I would do a Google search. I think you will find a lot of support, especially in studies having to do with child development. One author who you should definitely look up is Dale Farran who has done much research out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. I would also look at Project Zero. Look at the references listed in books from which you developed your thinking on what quality looks like. There should be lots of studies and books listed there.
On the other hand, quality definitions are almost in the eye of the beholder - what you view as important in the education of young children guides you to a certain way of thinking. In this case, the owner of this center is not impressed with the qualitative aspects of quality that in the long run promote learning and positive social/emotional outcomes for children. His/her measure of quality is all test-based where he can look at numbers to determine if the center is high quality.
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Nora Krieger, PhD
Associate Professor Emerita/Past Chair NJEEPRE
Bloomfield College/NJ Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia
Highland Park, NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-02-2021 08:28 PM
From: Laura Denz
Subject: What is Quality?
I recently interviewed for an academic director position in a private preschool. In addition to explaining to me that the only way children learn in the early years was through rote memorization, the owner told me that NAYEC was ridiculous because the standards for quality childcare centers have no basis in ANYTHING defined or explained. He told me that NAEYC had no definition for "quality". He says nothing is quantitative. While I am certain that he is full of a lot of hot air and I definitely do NOT want to work for him.... I am curious. What is NAEYC's definition of "quality"? Where do I find the research that I point out to parents and say "see? when you're kind and let children make choices, they learn better!" This man told me that as a progressive educator I lived in a fantasy world. How do I respond?