Looking back and moving forward: historicising the social construction of early childhood education and care as national work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Whilst it is possible to construct early childhood education and care (ECEC) in multiple ways, this article focuses on constructions of ECEC that have emerged within nationalist discourses privileged in advanced Western countries today, that is, ECEC as ‘national work’. Although these constructs are problematic and thus subject to criticism, the author shows that, historically, positioning ECEC as being of national benefit proved a powerful strategy for the early advocates of ECEC in New South Wales, Australia. The author argues that, despite their problematic nature, contemporary advocates of universal ECEC should strategically use nationalist and economic discourses.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)144-156
Number of pages13
JournalContemporary Issues in Early Childhood
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

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