Diversity in Early Childhood Services in Australia.

This study used structured interviews to examine the views of 101 South Australian immigrant families, grouped by country of origin, concerning their educational expectations for their children ages birth to 8 years. The overall research questions were: (1) What are the parental expectations of immigrant groups for the early education of their children? (2) How do these educational expectations differ and are there commonalities across the selected groups? (3) What are early childhood teachers' educational expectations for the children they teach? and (4) What are the areas of congruence or difference between the expectations of parents and teachers? The findings indicated differences between groups and between parents and teachers in the importance placed on early childhood education, preparing the child for school, helping the child's social and emotional growth, helping the child's moral growth, helping the child to care for the environment, and helping the child adjust to school (social aspect). (EV)