Should we allow politicians to take advantage of children in their ECE service, for political benefit?
We would be silly not to invite and support politicians to visit early childhood services and see first-hand what ECE is. Visiting can help politicians to gain a better understanding of any issues or problems and improve their policies and decision-making.
And, it is accepted that politicians attend the opening of new services.
But, what if a politician wants to use your service and children as a backdrop for their press conference. Would you say yes? Or would you say no?
Consider the following:
- How will children feel and what about their rights to say yes or no to this?
- How will this disrupt the curriculum and normal routines and flow of the day?
- Is this providing quality care and education for children?
- How will the ECE service be seen by families who support a different political party?
- How might photos in the media of a political leader making an announcement of a policy at your service, affect your service’s reputation in the future should the policy turn out to be harmful or inadequate in some way?
KIA ORA EVERYBODY. IT IS FANTASTIC TO BE HERE.
THIS IS MY SECOND ECE VISIT THIS MORNING. I HAD TO DROP MY OWN KIDS AT DAY-CARE ON THE WAY ...
– May 12, 2021, Minister Hipkins presents a pre-Budget announcement to reporters at a Wellington ECE centre.
– Children were required to sit, stay quiet, and had nothing else to do for at least 20 minutes.
