Child Research Net (CRN)
Child Research Net (CRN) is a non-profit, Internet-based child research institute. We have designed CRN's English site to bring together people concerned about children and to offer a forum for innovative interdisciplinary discussion. Our vast network of professionals, researchers, and educators around the world will bring you articles, reliable data, and the latest research in English, mainly on Japanese children and youth that are not otherwise available.
CRN's aim is to exchange information and knowledge on the Internet with child experts and researchers worldwide and pursue the happiness of children from the biological and social perspectives of Kodomogaku, Child Science, in its consideration of children.
CRN wants to open up the field of child study and expand perspectives on how to communicate with the new generation. In addition, we hope that these discussions will help further the understanding of culture, youth, and society. We invite all who are interested in the problem of children and youth today to participate in CRN.
Some of the international research topic
1. [Japan] Diversity and Change in Japanese Preschools: Directors' Views on the Topic of Individualization
by Susan D. Holloway, University of California, Berkeley
Comparisons of Japan and the United States frequently rely on dichotomous categories like "collectivistic" vs. "individualistic," or, more recently "symbiotic harmony" vs. "generative tension". In this article, the researcher has tried to argue that when we lump an entire society into a single category, they paper over essential differences in the way human relationships are conceptualized within that society. The comparative/dichotomous approach also fails to capture historical change -- illustrated here by the varied ways in which preschool directors are thinking about and implementing the notion of koseika.
Additionally, those who assume that cultural models are universally endorsed in society ignore the power of institutions to promote or suppress particular beliefs and behaviors. Yet, religious institutions, the national government, and class-related structures all work together to shape the policies and practices of Japanese preschools. When we pay attention to the varied -- and sometimes dissonant -- voices of educators, we obtain a better understanding of the actual conditions experienced by children in Japanese schools.
2. [Malaysia] Early Education and Development in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges in Providing a Framework for a Multiethnic Society
By Sham'ah Md-Yunus, Ph. D, Eastern Illinois University, USA.
This paper provides a brief overview of early education in Malaysia with a focus on the issues and challenges in providing quality early education for a multiethnic society. Conflicting interests between majority and minority ethnic groups not only cause different educational outcomes and expectations for children and families but also create challenges for the government to provide quality and equality of education to all young children. Some suggestions for a framework for early education in Malaysia are discussed that the Ministry of Education should take the lead to develop national teaching and learning standards that incorporate components from the languages and cultures of different ethnic groups to address the issues of differences in curriculum, instruction, and teacher preparation. The government also needs to recognize Malaysia's multi-ethnic society as intellectual capital for the country by using multiple languages as media of instruction in schools. This policy seems to be an important means for satisfying minority ethnic groups' desires and needs for equality and equity in education.
Noteworthy Information
Child Research Net (CRN) provides tremendous resources regards to education around the world. This website covers a wide range of topics on early childhood education and care (ECEC) from the perspective of researchers around the world. Early childhood education and care vary according to the culture, language, and characteristics of a particular country. These articles promote reexamination of early childhood education in one's own country while introducing developments elsewhere.
Sawin, thank you for sharing your research articles. I picked the same website because of the user-friendly set up of the website. You can find research articles easily and there are many interesting topics. I found some interesting topic under the papers and essay section and also the director's blog has some interesting views. Cynthia
ReplyDeleteHi Win, thank you so much for sharing this article and the background information about Child Research Net. I too found this website to be very informative and have great international research articles pertaining around the field of ECE. The article about diversity and change in Japanese Preschool sounds very intriguing. Particularly about discussing the idea around "collectivistic vs. individualistic." Its a very unique way at looking at diversity in an ECE program. It is imporatnt to teach children at a very young age to embrace our differences and be ok with the idea of being unique and everyone entitled to be whoever it is they want to be. It is so important not to put people into categorical boxes. It is what makes us unique that is what makes us who we are. Having awareness and an alert sense to this is a great way to build ones social development.
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