This study examined about the first selection and the re-selection of early childhood educational institution and private institute in mothers of having children in the early childhood. Specific research problems are as follows.
1. What about the fir...
This study examined about the first selection and the re-selection of early childhood educational institution and private institute in mothers of having children in the early childhood. Specific research problems are as follows.
1. What about the first selection of early childhood educational institution and private institute in mothers of having children in the early childhood?
1-1. What about mothers' aim of sending children to institution?
1-2. What about mothers' route of obtaining information on institution?
1-3. What are factors of being considered when mothers select institution?
2. What about the re-selection of early childhood educational institution and private institute in mothers of having children in the early childhood?
2-1. What is a reason that mothers move institution?
2-2. What are factors of being considered when mothers re-select institution?
2-3. What is a reason that mothers continue to send children to institution now?
The subjects of this study are 625 mothers who are sending children to the national․public kindergarten, private kindergarten, national․public child care center, private child care center, and private institutes, namely, the kindergarten class of English language institute, the kindergarten class of art institute, the kindergarten class of sports center, and a play school where are located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. A research tool was used by which a researcher modified and supplemented on the basis of the questionnaire, which was used in the researches by Park Gyeong-hui(1996), Lee Ju-a(2004), and Kim Mi-ran(2008). Processing of the collected data in this study was examined by obtaining frequency & percentage, and the mean & standard deviation.
The results of this study are as follows. First, when selecting educational institution for the first time, most of mothers were indicated to send children to educational institution in order to develop children's body, cognition, social emotion and language and to form a habit of basic living. Also, mothers were indicated to obtain information on educational institution the most from a person who had sent child to the educational institution or who is sending child at that time. When selecting educational institution, mothers considered almost all the factors, which were suggested by the researcher, to be more than moderate, and were indicated to consider in order of human environment, health care, physical environment, general operation, parental education, and curriculum.
Second, in case of having moved institution without continuing to attend the first institution when re-selecting educational institution, almost all the mothers were indicated to move due to failing to be satisfied with the educational contents in the institution, except moving, which is the natural shift. When re-selecting, most of mothers were indicated to consider teachers' quality and reputation the most. There is a little difference every institution. However, in the national & public institution was considered the amount of burden for educational expenses more than the private institution. Mothers, who re-selected child care center compared to kindergarten, were indicated to have much considered a method or the required time for attending․leaving the institution, and the health care. Also, mothers, who re-selected private institute, more considered the English education for the kindergarten class of English language institute, the characteristic education for a play school, and the amount of burden for educational expenses rather than the teacher's quality and reputation for the kindergarten class of art institute. Even mothers in the kindergarten class of sports center were considering the most the amount of burden for educational expenses. However, the alphabet guidance, parental meeting activity, and event were indicated to be nearly not considered when re-selecting for moving the institution.
In case of continuing to send child to the institution without moving institution where had been attended for the first time, the most satisfactory factor with the current institution in most of mothers included teacher's quality and reputation. The following factor that was satisfied showed a little difference every institution. Mothers in the private kindergarten, private child care center, and the art-institute kindergarten class had high satisfaction with the director's quality and reputation. Mothers of national․public kindergartens were low. Mothers in the national․public kindergarten or child care center were high in satisfaction at the amount of burden for educational expenses. Especially, private child care center was high in satisfaction with the quantity and quality in snack and lunch, the required time and method of attending and leaving institution, and daily education time. The greatest satisfaction was shown with English education by mothers of English-institute kindergarten class, with special education by mothers of a play school, and with the appearance and the contents of special activities by mothers of sports-center kindergarten class. Except the kindergarten class of English language institute, the mothers of institutional type were indicated to be low in the satisfaction with English education, and the satisfaction with alphabet guidance, the contents and frequency in events, the appearance of outdoor playground, and diverse parental meetings.
Based on the findings of this study, the following implications could be obtained.
First, mothers responded as saying of sending children with the aim of whole-person development even while sending children to a place where is not the regularly preschool educational institution. This is suggesting that mothers fail to recognize distinct difference in the educational objective and contents between regularly preschool educational institution and private institution. Accordingly, it can be said to be necessary for continuous guidance on regularly preschool educational institution in the national dimension so that mothers can select educational institution after rightly recognizing a concept of Early Childhood Education and the development in young children. In other words, it can be said to be necessary for being carried out publicity and education on the standard for high-quality educational institution by effectively utilizing the results of evaluation in kindergarten or of evaluation certification system in child care center.
Second, when selecting educational institution, the mothers could obtain information primarily from neighbor who has experience of having ever sent child to the institution, not from an expert in early childhood education. In case of moving the institution, they were shown to move due to failing to be satisfied with the educational contents. This can be analyzed that mothers are ultimately obtaining incorrect information on educational contents from neighbor. That is, the educational institutions can be known to fail to have smooth communication with mothers in proceeding with spreading educational activity in daily life. Accordingly, the educational institution can be said to necessarily seek for a plan of communication with mothers so that mothers can help with development in young children by well understanding philosophy and educational contents of educational institution.
Third, mothers considered teacher's quality and reputation most importantly among factors of considering given the first selection or the re-selection. This, is a part that can be known the importance of teachers and the socially expectation level for teachers in terms of education. Several systems and policies will need to be arranged for enhancing teachers' quality such as the teacher training system, the re-education for incumbent teachers, the pre-education, and the improvement in treatment of private kindergarten teachers.