Murphy, Lydia (2021) Leaning into Love and Compassionate Care in my Early Years Practice. Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
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Abstract
‘What does education need now?’
My research suggests the violence children are subject to is at an all-time high. The
need for children to experience Love and Compassionate Care within our early years
education system is needed now more than ever. Our policies favour terminology such
as ‘whole systems approach’ and ‘economicus’. The standardisation of children’s
learning is facing a worldwide crisis of outcome-driven goals. Emphasising literacy and
numeracy with the effect of pushing down ‘schoolifcation’ on our young children. The
purpose of this study was to examine myself both professionally and personally by
exploring my ‘Living Contradictions’ with the intention of improving my own practice.
Relational and holistic care are central to my values. I aspired to intensify my
knowledge and professional practice by means of practical environmental interventions
and observing the impact of the adult/child and child/child relationships. This research
challenges the somewhat deficit-based lenses of trauma-informed practices. Rather
viewing the research through a relationship-based lens seeking to buffer the effect of
trauma on a person’s life outcomes. My self-study project employed qualitative
research using Korthagen’s action research cycle and this was extended by using
Brookfield’s lenses to allow the participants, theoretical richness and meaningful voices
to be understood. Data was collected through reflective journaling, anecdotal evidence,
reflecting mapping and experiential questionnaires. My results established innovative
guiding principles for our preschool ecosystem. Our relational-based holistic pedagogy
encompasses the self, the physical and affective environment which extends to the
transformative effects of myself, my colleagues, and the children. The overarching
themes emerging from my research were the ‘Good Enough Educator’, ‘Holistic Curriculum’ and ‘The Ripple Effect. The conclusion explains the benefits of radical
love as a revolution. Bringing forth multiple fields to seek the same goal. Defining what
how predominant values are in decision making and how we need to pull them apart
and interrogate them. Allowing innovate teaching and practice to emerge It explores
what came from my dissatisfaction of the literature. Radical love promoting human
kindness and compassionate care. The research end with recommendations for future
practice including links to policy.
Key Words: Self-study, Action Research, Critical Reflection, Love, Compassion,
Relationships, Transformational Education, Schoolification. Good Enough.
Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
---|---|
Keywords: | Self-study; Action Research; Critical Reflection; Love; Compassion; Relationships; Transformational Education; Schoolification; Good Enough; Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education |
Item ID: | 15317 |
Depositing User: | IR eTheses |
Date Deposited: | 24 Jan 2022 13:32 |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/15317 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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