Compassionate pedagogy: the ethics of care in early childhood professionalism

Taggart, G. (2016) Compassionate pedagogy: the ethics of care in early childhood professionalism. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 24 (2). pp. 173-185. ISSN 1752-1807 doi: 10.1080/1350293X.2014.970847

Abstract/Summary

This paper builds upon an earlier attempt (Taggart, 2011) to articulate a rationale for professional training in early childhood education and care (ECEC) which is ethical as opposed to one which is purely instrumental or rooted in a patriarchal notion of women’s supposed unique suitability. The argument proposes that a feminist approach to ethics, as both socially critical and psychologically affective or flexible, has a particular relevance to professional identity in ECEC. In particular, compassion, as a concept which has both sociological and psychological connotations, foregrounds the ethical dimension of the work whilst overcoming false dichotomies between discourses of ‘children’s rights’ and ‘care’. The implications for the training and professional identity of practitioners are discussed.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/38539
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/1350293X.2014.970847
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > Institute of Education > Improving Equity and Inclusion through Education
Publisher	Taylor and Francis
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