ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book contains contributions from six geographic regions that articulate current early childhood education (ECE) practices, programmatic and curricular issues, research and evaluation, and teacher training. Those regions are Latin America and the Caribbean; Russia, Turkey, and the Middle East; Africa; Asia; Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea; and North America and Europe. The book provides an overview of the historical context of policies along with a reflection on ideological discourses embedded in efforts to educate young children. It describes efforts to meet the needs of children in multi-ethnic cultural communities with extreme economic disparities: English-speaking Caribbean countries, Brazil, and Colombia. The book highlights how neoliberalism impacts leadership roles, how the adherence to external standards can undermine flexibility and quality ECE, and the extent to which individuals in early childhood leadership roles embrace critical thinking and social justice.
