KNYGA Theodora Lightfoot-Rueda Global Perspectives on Human Capital in Early Childhood Education

Global Perspectives on Human Capital in Early Childhood Education examines the emergence and global dominance of human capital theory in early childhood education. Lightfoot-Rueda, Peach, and their contributors explore the idea of human capital theory to develop children as future workers, and how this thinking shapes early childhood education policy around the globe. Early childhood educators are not yet used to thinking of their responsibilities for developing future human resources, with the standards-based curriculum, testing, and accountability in current schooling practices. Using a variety of theoretical orientations and methodologies to question whether school should be viewed mainly in terms of investment and returns, the authors look beyond the language of human capital to explore other ways we might understand schooling beyond imparting skills to future workers.