What I Have Learned

One hope I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to build relationships that consist of respect, honesty, trust and understanding. I believe when teachers are working in an anti-bias environment they should be well trained and licensed. An effective anti-bias teacher will go deeper into liberation in order to help young children to over- come their biases. Early childhood educators have deep faith that all young children deserve the opportunity and resources to fulfill their potential goals in life (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice would be to teach young children how to respect and understand other people differences. Teacher should observe each child throughout the classroom setting to make should there is no act of discrimination seen among them. All children are created whole, endowed with innate, with dignity and wonder, and worthy of respect (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

Dr. Klein,

Thank you for teaching a course that helped me to understand my own biases. Thank you for the comments, for answering my e-mail at an appropriate time, and thank you for the feedback.

To my colleagues,

This has been an amazing course for me. I have enjoyed reading you all posted and have learned a great deal of new information. Thanks for sharing your insights with me. Good luck on your journey!!

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Creating Art

World Peace Begins With Me, and people getting together.

Throughout this course, I have gained many insights on diversity, culture and family culture. It doesn’t matter what family a person grows up in as long as they are part of a peaceful, caring and trusting family with strong bounds that consisted of love, safety, happiness and encouragement. No matter what culture or race is present in the classroom setting, educators should teach students how not to discriminate and to respect, trust and appreciate other people differences. Early childhood professionals are always in contact with people of different culture and different races. Professional should gain a complete understanding of racism and racial identity in order to help support young children that may or may not have prejudice views. Helping to uncover and examine young children act of discrimination can help to eliminate behavior problems early in life (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). By helping young children to understand any discrimination thoughts, will help them to have peace within themselves and peace with children of all colors.

Young Children of all Races should know how Peace Begins in A Living World!!!

Peace is many things.

Peace begins with saying I am sorry.

Peace begins with not hurting others.

Peace begins with honesty and trust.

Peace begins with showing cooperation and respect.

Peace is being quiet, caring for peers, and giving hugs and kisses.

Peace is opening the door for old people.

Peace is praying, loving, seeing animals sing, being patient, sleeping, writing, sing to nature, and watching swans swim.

Peace is giving love to nature, giving joy to people and planting flowers in the spring.

World Peace Begins With Me, and people getting together.


Just a thought!!

We all walk the earth with a heart inside, so let put aside differences and join hands.

When prayers and dreams are answered, only then we will realize that world peace and harmony make us all.

Sometime, showing facts and coming up with ideas about cultures, will give young children a better picture concerning thoughts and feelings of prejudice they may or may not have toward other people.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Diversity Poems for Kids, Diversity Kids Poetry, Diversity Top ...www.4to40.com/poems/default.asp?k=Diversity Cached

"We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

I can remember one incident that just took place last week when my cousin came home to visit his mother that was in the hospital. It was three of us in the room visiting with auntie when her son knocked at the door. My cousin was escorted by his girlfriend who is a white female. My little four year old niece ran and jump to his arm like she always do with a big smile and hug. He gave her a big kiss on the forehead while squeezing (hugging) her slightly. He asked her to say hello to his girlfriend and he introduced her to the rest of us. My niece came back over to my sister and I, she said “my cousin got a white girlfriend, why”? The young lady looked as she felt out of place, but I explained to my niece that why it did not matter about color. I do not know whether she understood or not, but she appeared happy afterward.

I am glad to have explained to my niece about color and difference. I how she understands well enough to know that everybody have their own differences. Adults have to teach their children early in life about other people differences. Young children learn as they grow and develop in life. As children grow and develop, they should be allowed to ask and answer questions appropriately. When young children are growing up in life, they receive different communication experiences that end up shaping their thoughts and feeling (Harro, 2010). My niece was very acquainted with my cousin other friend, so she wanted to know what happen to her.

As an anti-bias educator, I would have explained to my niece in the same way. I noticed she did not ask the question loudly, but the young lady heard what was said. I want her to be able to ask and answer questions without thinking she have done something wrong. Young children should notice the differences and similarities about other people. If a child ask a question and educators do not know what to say, they should explain that I do not have an answer right now, but I will get back with you later (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2012). It is essential for young children to listen and to express their feelings using appropriate language early in life.

References:

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

Harro, B. (2010). The cycle of socialization. In M. Adams, W. Blumenfeld, C. Castaneda,Harro, B. (2010). The cycle of socialization. In M. Adams, W. Blumenfeld, C. Castaneda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, & X. Zuniga (Eds.), Readings for diversity and social justice (Figure 6.1 on p. 46, 2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families

Everyone should have the same rights and opportunities as others. Who gives us the rights to show acts of discrimination toward another human-being sexual orientation? Individuals should have the right of freedom to do or be whatever they choose. Freedom is to have equal opportunity in any degree one chooses. It is not all about religion, gender or the color of your skin. If individuals no matter whether they are gay or lesbian have a license and is quality to teach, then they should be recognized in doing so. Young children are a quick learner, and if they have never been around people of different sexual orientation; they will have the opportunity to ask and answer questions. Gay or lesbian should be treated the same as any other citizen in the US. They should have the opportunity to work in any environment such as early childhood setting, without any act of discrimination, harassment or prejudgment. Some people believe that gay men and lesbians should not be allowed to hold certain positions such as teacher, foster parent, soldier, counselor, religious leader, or police officer because they are irresponsible (Harris, 2011). But, I think they have the right to hold any positions that they are qualified to hold.

How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child

I cannot imagine the pains that lesbians and gays may go through every day. Lesbians and gays are still facing stress, fear, emotional problem, anger, etc. because of the way they are being treated within the society. Since I believe that everybody should have an equal opportunity in life, I will listen to whatever concerns the family may have. I will provide families with different resources about different sexual orientation and answer questions to the best of my ability. I will try to make them understand that everyone has the rights to choose what they want in life and to give them a fair chance. At some point in our lives, people that show prejudice and discriminate against other citizens may realize that putting a stop to it can decrease the crime rate, and harm that it can cause others. Young children learn all about sexual orientation through role plays, books, toys, creations, imaginations, social interactions and the world around them. Unless adults guide young children the right way, they can develop discrimination and adverse reactions from being around people who behave in unfamiliar ways (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Also, sexual orientation should be discussed with young children and families in an age appropriate and respectful matter.

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Harris, S. (2009, Winter) Child Rights Information Network (CRIN). Discrimination: Briefing on age discrimination. Retrieved from http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=20940

Adjourning

I have been studying with Walden for over four years, and it was quite sad to say good-bye to every group. I have study with several groups more than once, and it was even harder to leave them. Since I have been in the Master’s program it is even harder to say good-bye to my colleagues, because they provided me with so much information. The information I received from them on the discussion board and in responding to various postings will help me to accomplish my goals in the early childhood field. I have experience real communication from learning in a group and showing teamwork as well as the ability to trust and understand other people differences. There was much personal information brought out in this program that should be remained between us colleagues. The trust we had in each other while sharing many stories in our lessons made us stronger, and this information will be carried on into our profession. I hope that you all have enjoyed me in your group as much as I have enjoyed having you all in my group. I will like to thank each of you all and maybe we will be studying together again in the near future. Thank you all and good luck!!

Disagreement

In my personal life, I just reason broke of a relationship with my friend because of a disagreement. When I meet him, he had two little cute house puppies. I like dogs because I have one of my own, but I do not like them to stay in the house. After dating for a few months, my friend decided to take a better paying job at an electrical plant in Mississippi. He knew from communicating with me that I did not like house pets, but he asked if I would take care of the puppies and he would come to my house on Sunday which was his only off day. I thought about it for a while and decided to tell him I would keep the puppies only if he provides a cage for resting in the day and sleeping at night. I also told him that since I would be the one taking care of them, don’t he interfere with my rules as long as I did not mistreat them. He agreed that the puppies stay on the outside and come in throughout the day for rest and to sleep at night.

About four months later, my rules were no longer his concern, he start bringing the puppies back into the house. When I would leave to go out to run an area, he and both puppies would be lying in bed sleep when I arrived. The best thing for me to do at the time was to think before acting, because I was mad enough to jump rope. My feelings of thinking, being able to identify and express internal feeling states in a way that does not imply judgment, criticism, or blame/punishment is what I was trying to avoid in this relationship (The Center for Nonviolent Communication, 2013). We communicated once more about the rules that were put in place for the puppies that did not stand.

The third time, I observed him as he fell asleep with the puppies in his arms, I knew right then that all three of them has to go, because I did not want to get into no violence confutation about dogs. I believe in nonviolent communication, which is being able to carefully observe what is happening in my environment, and to specify behaviors and conditions that are affecting me (The Center for Nonviolent Communication, 2013). We are no longer together, he took the puppies to his ex-girlfriend and while in her care Morocco the boy puppy got hit by a car and died.

Reference

The Center for Nonviolent Communication. (n.d.). The center for nonviolent communication Retrieved from http://www.cnvc.org/