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In recent years I've begun to ask directors to describe the vision that is guiding their work. The limited response most have offered leaves me so discouraged. Some talk of a new playground, more scholarship dollars, or an active substitute teacher list. In my mind these responses are goals or items on a wish list, possibly indicators of a dream not yet fully articulated.

Many directors point to NAEYC Accreditation, Head Start Performance Standards, the Creative Curriculum, or their High/Scope program as their vision. To be sure, I have great respect for these guideposts and have used such things for many years in my own work. But as I begin to look around at the actual classrooms following these standards, and when I assess the focus of curriculum and interactions between the staff, children, and families, my heart sinks. Somehow the idea of a vision for a program has been reduced ...