Students learn how to care for a child in a unique and zany way.
By: Christian Phelps
Many aspire to become very honorable members of society when they get the chance to pursue their dream job: a member of the police force, a firefighter, or a teacher, but what does it take to become a teacher? What qualifications are needed to work with kids? Timber Creek High School offers an elective course titled “Early Childhood Education” commonly nicknamed “ECE” where students learn side-by-side the necessities of raising and caring for children. The teacher of this class, Kristen Wright, uses many memorable tactics of teaching that have been very well received by a multitude of her students. Freshman Anysa Morales stated, “I love Ms Wright, honestly. She is very loud in a good way to where she always grabs our attention.“ Many students agree that her teaching style is extremely effective and exciting.
Students in the class learn about almost every single aspect of child care and raising children. When someone joins Early Childhood Education they are preparing to get their certification with DCF or the Department of Children and Families. This certification allows people to have childhood interactions safely within workspaces and environments one might volunteer such as teaching, daycare, or tutoring. The class environment seems to be considered “loud but friendly” and people feel comfortable learning with each other. The class covers many subjects such as the stages of child development, the process of childbirth, how to spot child abuse, and how to safely and calmly interact with children. Students in this course consider the course important and necessary because it prepares them for their future career.
On November 30th every student in Early Childhood Education made a fake baby doll out of sugar, pantyhose, stuffing, and at the end made the babies unique and their own with face decorations like googly eyes and pacifiers. This project is worth 800 points and is very detailed. Students have to treat these babies like they are real breathing babies that can feel. These babies can’t eat or use the bathroom but the “skin” of the baby can rip, the students are being watched to make sure they are holding their babies correctly, and the teacher has her upperclassman students report the freshman students whenever they see them doing something incorrect or irresponsible. Many have started to feel a strong attachment to these sugar babies after a while. Freshman Daniella Kennedy said, “I act like it’s my own baby and I treat it as if it’s my own.” She said that holding it all hours of the day has created a strong attachment to the baby. People would ask her to hold the baby or ask what the name is. She felt like these questions were a look into the life of a real mother or caretaker.
This event and project ended on December 7th and the ending of this project has received multiple different emotions. Some feel as if it is a relief because they don’t have to deal with the responsibilities of caring for their fake baby, but some also feel attached to the baby and are saying goodbye to a friend. Although some don’t agree that the babies made a special attachment, all agree that these babies have taught them a lot about the caring and nurturing of children.
