A Trinity of Saviours—Parent, Teacher and Child: Human Capital Theory and Early Childhood Education in New Zealand

Abstract

THERE IS A CONTEMPORARY trinity, of mother, child and teacher, who together ‘grow’ both the present and future workers of the national economy. Economic truths assert that mothers can best meet their young child's needs by being in the workplace, while entrusting her child to a skilled educator. Human Capital Theory discourse has penetrated the lives of our youngest citizens. Human Capital theorists maintain that state investments in early childhood education will be cost effective; will pay long-term economic dividends.