As the end of the century nears, it is important to reflect upon the history of early childhood education and what the future holds. Centuries before the Christian era began, Plato wrote that the welfare of children from birth onward was a responsibility of the entire community. In 1628, the first written guidance for out-of-home education of children between the ages of 3 and 7 was provided in a text by Comenius. By the 1890s, kindergartens had gained enough popularity such that a Kindergarten Department became a segment of the National Educational Association. Through the Great Depression and the World Wars, the concept of early childhood education continued to grow. Now as we look toward the next century, we need to: (1) continue to align ourselves with organizations to fight for programs responsive to the needs of children; (2) ensure that teachers have appropriate educational and experiential backgrounds; (3) persuade budget-makers that parental fees must be supplemented by public funding to ensure a quality learning environment; (4) avoid emphasizing any one age level at the expense of others; and (5) remember the basic needs of children. (SW)