Summary
This article examines a group of New Zealand preschool teachers’ perspectives on their early childhood curriculum —Te Whãriki: He Whãriki Maatauranga mo ngaa Mokopuna o Aotearoa (Ministry of Education, 1996). In this discussion we focus on the teachers’ understandings of the meaning, value and focus of this curriculum document. This is part of a small-scale qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with eight and nine preschool teachers undertaken in each of three countries — Norway, Sweden and New Zealand (during 1999–2002). We conclude this article with a comparative discussion of some of the similarities and differences between the three countries.
Résumé
Cet article porte sur les opinions d’un groupe d’enseignants du préscolaire de Nouvelle-Zélande sur le programme d’éducation préscolaireTe Whãriki: He Whãriki Maatauranga mo ngaa Mokopuna o Aotearoa (Ministry of Education, 1996). Dans cette discussion nous nous concentrons sur la compréhension des enseignants du sens, de la valeur et du cœur de ce programme. Ceci constitue une partie d’une étude qualitative à petite échelle, basée sur des entretiens en profondeur avec huit ou neuf enseignants du préscolaire et menée dans trois pays: la Norvège, la Suède et la Nouvelle-Zélande (de 1999 à 2002). Nous terminons cet article par une discussion comparative de certaines similarités et différences entre les trois pays.
Resumen
Este artículo examina las perspectivas de un grupo de profesores Neo Zelandeses de preescolar con respecto a sus programas de estudio de educación temprana —Te Whãriki: He Whãriki Maatauranga mo ngaa Mokopuna o Aotearoa (Ministerio de Educación, 1996). La discusión se concentra en el entendimiento de los maestros sobre el significado, valor y enfoque del programa de estudio. Esta discusión es parte de un estudio cualitativo de pequeña escala basado en entrevistas detalladas con ocho o nueve profesores de preescolar, las cuales se llevaron a cabo en tres países — Noruega, Suecia y Nueva Zelanda durante 1999–2002. El artículo concluye con una discusión comparativa de algunas similitudes y diferencias entre los tres países.
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Alvestad, M., Duncan, J. “The value is enormous — It’s priceless i think!” New Zealand preschool teachers’ understandings of the early childhood curriculum in New Zealand — A comparative perspective. IJEC 38, 31–45 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03165976
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03165976