Social Policy in the Early Years: Making Connections Assignment

Assignment organization

The Social Policy in the Early Years course seeks to create a space for understanding, debating and deconstructing the social forces that impact the lives of children and families in the Canadian context. 

Social problems are often perceived as larger than human and often inevitable, not recognizing the role and power that members of society hold in shaping structural forces. 

In this assignment students will practice their analytical skills in making connections between existing and historical social processes discussed in class and current social issues. As well as explore our ability to re-imagine the social conditions and supports that could be needed to create a more equitable Canada. 

 

Assignment organization

For this assignment you will need to write a blog entry responding to any of the materials shared during the lectures and making a connection with a current issue reflected on media coverage and/or social media platforms. 

Your Making Connections Blog entry will need to include:

• references from the specific lecture content you are responding to
• connection to a current (within the last year) issue covered in media
• your personal analysis or interpretation on why you think others should be aware of this information. 
• a brief statement on how your understanding of the issue is significant for your educational practice

help guide your writing consider the following prompts. You do not need to answer all of these just use any or all of them as inspiration. 

1. What did I learn today that reminded me of a (news article or video, tiktok or other social media post, personal story or friend’s experience)

2. How is this issue impacting the lives of families? Is the issue related to societal values, biases or prejudices in Canada?

3. As an ECE how does the understanding of systemic barriers impact the way I perceive or interact with children and families?