What I Have Learned

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is simple. As a future early childhood educator I want to provide a program that will allow children and families the opportunity to be able to feel comfortable in the classroom environment.

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to make sure all educators are prepared for these issues as they occur.  This goal can be met by providing workshops and programs that will address these issues of diversity, equity, and social justice.

I would like to thank the instructor and colleagues for the insights given to me throughout this course. I have enjoyed the discussions and blog assignment. I have learned so much. Good luck to everyone as we continue this journey.

Tonetta Bogard- Marion

Creating Art

Human Family
Poem by Dr. Maya Angelou
Read at the dedication of the Disney Millennium Village

I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.

The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.
I've sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land.
I've seen the wonders of the world,
not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I've not seen any two
who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.

I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: “We Don’t Say Those Words in Class!”

I can recall a time when I was the lead three year old teacher at a preschool and we were all sitting in a circle discussion the day’s lesson. A little boy got up from his seat and out of blue start saying with his hand raised in the air white power. I sit there for moment speechless. So, I asked him What did you say? He repeated it again white power. I was floored from his comment. I told him that that was not a nice thing to say.  He really did not understand what he had or why I telling him that it was not a nice thing to say.  I went and got the director and told her what he said. She immediately called his parents and told them what he had said. That afternoon when they came in they were in shocked and embarrassed about his comments. They apologize for comments in the classroom. They explained to me that they were watching the David Chappel Show and they thought that he was sleep in his room and during this episode   Chappel does a skit about men talking about white power. They guess that he overheard what was said and repeated the next day.  They were very embarrassed and continue to apologize.

I think I handle it in the appropriate matter, because he didn’t know what he was saying. The little boy was just repeating what he had heard the other night.

An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child would be to just listen. Stay calm and interested. Figure out what the child wants to know. It may not be what the question appears to be on the surface. Listen for feelings behind the words. Answer matter-of-factly and simply. Use language appropriate to the child’s developmental understanding. Always respond and always follow up. Decide whether a particular child’s question warrants follow-up activities with all the children (Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., Edwards, J., Hoffman, E., (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.