RECE 30th Anniversary Webinar Series

In 1991, the first RECE conference was launched in response to critical questions that were not being asked, and 30 years later we continue to challenge dominant ideas and perspectives about how children learn and grow, how early childhood educators envision pedagogy, and complicate universalizing assumptions about children’s, families’, and educators’ experiences. Over the years, through interrogating research, policy, and practice, RECE members have tried to shed light on the pluralism and diversity of people’s lived realities, and the multiplicity rather than the narrowness of what is possible. Imperative to these conversations are worldviews that are expansive, inclusive, and embedded in social justice. As early childhood educators we understand that it is necessary to address racism, imperialism, neoliberalism, prejudice, discrimination, or any form of oppression with people of all ages.

In this virtual forum to mark RECEs’ 30th Anniversary, we bring together members of the international RECE community to explore answers to the question What should matter currently in early care and education? What are critical questions today? Drawing from international and intergenerational expertise, panel members will discuss some of the most pressing issues in ECEC. Also, how have the issues changed over time? Are many issues and questions similar to those addressed 30 years ago? When RECE had its 20th anniversary, one of the founding members of RECE asked the question, but what thinking or actions did we “cut open,” rupture, or change? As a community, we continue to reflect on this question today.