INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / MAY 8, 1990

 

 

College program gives child care workers
multi-level skills

ake no mistake about it —

working with children in
daycare centres and nursery
schools is not a simple babysitting
job. It’s a profession that requires
multi-level skills.

Just ask Sandra Hilborn, a 28-
year old mother of three, who runs
her own daycare from home. Hil-
born says the only way to learn
multi-level skills is to get special-
ized training.

Hilborn graduated from the
Early Childhood Education pro-
gram at Douglas College in 1980.
“It’s important for employers to
realize that Douglas College
fosters a high level of profes-
sionalism in their students," she
says.
“The Early Childhood Educa-
tion program encourages students
to learn multi-level skills and to
understand the long-term benefits
of early childhood care."

Douglas College’s Early
Childhood Education program is
one of ten programs offered
through the College’s Department
of Social Services and Allied
Health.

The one-year basic certificate
program integrates theory and
practice. Full-time students spend
about 20 hours per week in as-
signed practicum centres working
directly with children under close
supervision of instructors and su-
pervisors.

“Our program was the first in
B.C. to offer infancy training," says
Cathleen Smith, faculty co-or-
dinator for the Basic Early
Childhood Education program.
"And we’re also one of the first
programs to offer special needs
training."

"We have a good reputation

for training people who care for
very young children."

The basic full-time program
runs one year, and upon gradua-
tion, students receive a Basic
(Level I) Certificate in Early
Childhood Education. After com-
pleting 500 hours of supervised

during the summer and teachers’
professional days," Smith says.
The program attracts men and
women who are "fairly well
qualified," says Smith. Applicants
must have some first-hand
knowledge about Early Childhood
Education, and must successfully

 

"It's not an easy program. It’s not for people who are
looking for some glorified babysitting job. This is a
professional program and our students have to study hard
and doa lot of homework. They have to be serious students.”

 

work experience in no more than
two licensed preschool centres, stu-
dents are eligible to register with
the Provincial Child Care Facilities
Licensing Board as a qualified
group preschool supervisor.

Students who wish to work
with toddlers (children under age
3) or children with special needs
require additional post-basic train-
ing.

The College also offers a part-

time program "for people who

can’t afford to take a whole year
off to go to school," says Smith.
Many part-time students work as
assistants in daycare centres while
taking their training. The basic pro-
gram takes approximately two-
and-a-half years to complete on a
part-time basis.

Graduates of the program are
qualified to teach in preschools,
parent-participating preschools
and daycare centres. "Some of our
graduates go into out-of-school
care for children over age five who
need care before and after school,

complete a basic reading com-
prehension test. Potential students
must also provide references from
two people (other than relatives)
who are familiar with the
applicant’s experiences in working
with young children.

"It’s not an easy program,”
Smith says. "It’s not for people
who are looking for some glorified
babysitting job. This is a profes-
sional program and our students
have to study hard and do a lot of
homework. They have to be
serious students."

Smith says money should not
be a great motivation for people
entering the field. "Most of our stu-
dents know they won’t be earning
huge salaries when they complete
the program," she says. "Students
who enroll in the program are
very dedicated to children."

For more information about
Douglas College’s Early
Childhood Education program
call 527-5486. @

 

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