When I think about my future work with children and families from diverse backgrounds, I hope that I continue to use everything that I have learned from this course. I hope that I remember all that I learned about microaggressions and the power that our words carry. I hope that I remain sensitive to others cultures including their language, religion, and parenting styles. And I hope that I can continue to educate my staff on this topic so that we are sensitive to diversity and embrace and accept everyone for who they are.
One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood education field, with regard to diversity, equity, and social justice, is to continue moving in the right direction. As Louise Derman-Sparks said, "the passion is in the vision." I think it's important that all ECE professionals remember what that vision is and educate their staff on topics such as diversity, microaggressions, and the importance of valuing culture and incorporating it into the classroom.
This course has definitely been my favorite thus far. I have really enjoyed learning about all of the topics that we've covered and discovering more about myself. I thank everyone for your support in discussion boards and blog posts and wish you all continued success on your journey throughout this program.
4.24.2014
4.17.2014
Welcoming Families From Around the World
Let's imagine a scenario: I am the director of a preschool and just enrolled a new family. This family, the McConnell's, are from Scotland and their 4 year old daughter, Kellin, will be joining the Pre-Kindergarten class. To prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards the McConnell's, I will do the following:
1. Learn more about Scotland - the typical religion of the country, typical parenting styles/ways children are viewed, how their education system works/what they view as typical with regards to education, common diet, government structure, popular music, etc.
2. Inform the Pre-K teachers of the child's culture and educate them on the facts that I learned about Scotland and ways that they can help Kellin feel welcomed into their classroom.
3. Ensure that their culture is reflected in the classroom so that the child feels valued (ex. pictures of Scotland on the wall, pictures of men in kilts with bagpipes reflected with the rest of the multicultural pictures, a Celtic CD in listening center, etc.
4. Invite and encourage the parents to become a part of the PTA program that we have at our school.
5. Strive to incorporate celebrations for days that Kellin would celebrate were she still living in Scotland, such as May Day.
I believe that by incorporating the five things listed above, the McConnell family, and Kellin, would feel more welcomed. Having a knowledge about their country and their culture would hopefully be appreciated and make them feel accepted and valued. Incorporating specific cultural items and celebrations into the classroom would help Kellin feel more at home and accepted. And by encouraging the McConnell family to become active in the PTA, it would be my hope that they would truly feel welcomed into our community and our school.
1. Learn more about Scotland - the typical religion of the country, typical parenting styles/ways children are viewed, how their education system works/what they view as typical with regards to education, common diet, government structure, popular music, etc.
2. Inform the Pre-K teachers of the child's culture and educate them on the facts that I learned about Scotland and ways that they can help Kellin feel welcomed into their classroom.
3. Ensure that their culture is reflected in the classroom so that the child feels valued (ex. pictures of Scotland on the wall, pictures of men in kilts with bagpipes reflected with the rest of the multicultural pictures, a Celtic CD in listening center, etc.
4. Invite and encourage the parents to become a part of the PTA program that we have at our school.
5. Strive to incorporate celebrations for days that Kellin would celebrate were she still living in Scotland, such as May Day.
I believe that by incorporating the five things listed above, the McConnell family, and Kellin, would feel more welcomed. Having a knowledge about their country and their culture would hopefully be appreciated and make them feel accepted and valued. Incorporating specific cultural items and celebrations into the classroom would help Kellin feel more at home and accepted. And by encouraging the McConnell family to become active in the PTA, it would be my hope that they would truly feel welcomed into our community and our school.
4.11.2014
The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression
When thinking about bias, prejudice, and oppression there is one incident that sticks out in my mind. This is not an incident that I personally experienced but one that was described to me in detail by a very close friend who happens to be African American. Trina, my friend, told me a story that occurred when she was in first grade. Her best friend at the time was a Caucasian girl named Karen. Trina and Karen were inseparable at the time and always played together. One day Karen came to school and passed out birthday invitations to all of her friends. Trina waited and waited but never received one. Fast forward to Monday and all of the girls in her class were talking about how great Karen's birthday party. Trina walked up to Karen and asked her why she didn't get invited to her party, since she's her best friend. Karen said "My mommy said you couldn't come because you're black." Trina recalled this as the first time that she realized that there was a difference between black and white people and feeling like being black is bad.
This incident diminished equity by demonstrating blatant racism. Not only was the parent racist, but taught her young child those feelings as well. For me, seeing Trina in person recall this story, it was very emotional. I, as a Caucasian woman, have never felt those extreme feelings of prejudice before and I could tell by Trina's emotions and tone of voice how much this incident still impacts her. She made a point to say that to this day she will never forget that incident and that it still hurts her feelings and makes her feel less than. Personally I can not imagine feeling the way that she felt.
In order to change this situation into an opportunity for greater equity, I think that the situation would have to be completely different. If perhaps the mother allowed Trina to come and talked about their differences in skin color but taught Karen that everyone is the same on the inside, then maybe there would be an opportunity for greater equity.
This incident diminished equity by demonstrating blatant racism. Not only was the parent racist, but taught her young child those feelings as well. For me, seeing Trina in person recall this story, it was very emotional. I, as a Caucasian woman, have never felt those extreme feelings of prejudice before and I could tell by Trina's emotions and tone of voice how much this incident still impacts her. She made a point to say that to this day she will never forget that incident and that it still hurts her feelings and makes her feel less than. Personally I can not imagine feeling the way that she felt.
In order to change this situation into an opportunity for greater equity, I think that the situation would have to be completely different. If perhaps the mother allowed Trina to come and talked about their differences in skin color but taught Karen that everyone is the same on the inside, then maybe there would be an opportunity for greater equity.
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