Through a case study of a key Canadian early childhood education program, The Kindergarten Program (Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, 1998a), we explore the relationship between curricular paradigms and early childhood education (ECE) models, and the opportunities that each creates for enacting ethical teaching and learning relationships. We position the "cult of efficiency" (Stein, 2001) as the antithesis of ethical ECE, and we forward suggestions for enabling teachers to consider the kind of person they must become in order to develop a nonviolative relationship with young children (Cornell, 1992). (Contains 2 figures and 2 notes.)