INSPIRATIONS FROM REGGIO EMILIA: HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS: "Looking historically over the past 50 years, how has the socio-cultural milieu played a part in the development of the Reggio Emilia Schools...
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First of all, I'd like to say, when I read the article by Stremmel, I was almost in tears on page 44! I'm not sure if it's because I'm a parent or not, but it REALLY makes me think twice about what I say and how I say it to my child- even (what I consider to be) the littlest incident. The words of Stremmel's son after daddy yelled at him for spilling a milk: "How can someone who is so important to me hate me so much?" will probably stay with me forever! Even in 2000, Goodlad still believed that, "[childhood] has not been accorded to existential human value equal to that of adulthood" (Goodlad 87). But how could they NOT be viewed as equal? If we do not value children THROUGH childhood, how are they going to make it past that and be considered valueable members of society DURING adulthood??? That notion really floors me!
Gambetti is right: By learning the basics of Reggio Emilia, what we (Non-Italian) citizens of this world are doing is looking at childhood in our OWN cultures and considering how WE value it and what we should change. Reggio Emilia is a great reflection point on what we have done and should do for OUR children.
