Professional Hopes and Goals

After eight weeks of study, we come to the end of Perspectives on Diversity and Equity.  We have learned about the definitions of culture, diversity, and microaggressions.  I have been surprised at my own revelations and have learned from the perspectives of my colleagues.  My hope is that I take what I have learned here and apply to my work with children, families, and staff.  As we see the demographics in our community change with the influx of new immigrants from numerous different countries, we need to be prepared to support them in navigating the waters of education.  My role as a professional is to lead and coach others in ways to work with all families and children and I hope that some of the information I have gathered in this course will transfer to my daily interactions and training with staff.

One goal for our early childhood field is to incorporate more diversity training and education in the higher education institutions.  It is so important that new professionals coming in to teach in our classrooms know how to interact with families from all backgrounds and cultures.  I think in my undergraduate program there was one class on diversity.  If we start with the "front line", we can begin to ensure that children and families are well supported.  Once they enter the workforce, it is more difficult to find time for those trainings because they are focused on planning environments and curriculum.

I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues.  I think this course provided all of us with great insight and discussions about difficult topics and issues.  I appreciate all of your candid responses and posts and I look forward to learning more from you in future courses.  Have a wonderful holiday season and happy new year!

Sincerely,
Katherine

P.S.  Here is the "covenant" by Raffi that the last video referenced.  I think it is beautiful!
We find these joys to be self evident: That all children are created whole, endowed with innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect. The embodiment of life, liberty and happiness, children are original blessings, here to learn their own song. Every girl and boy is entitled to love, to dream and belong to a loving “village.” And to pursue a life of purpose.
We affirm our duty to nourish and nurture the young, to honour their caring ideals as the heart of being human. To recognize the early years as the foundation of life, and to cherish the contribution of young children to human evolution.
We commit ourselves to peaceful ways and vow to keep from harm or neglect these, our most vulnerable citizens. As guardians of their prosperity we honour the bountiful Earth whose diversity sustains us. Thus we pledge our love for generations to come.
From http://www.raffinews.com/child-honouring/covenant-principles

Welcoming Families From Around the World

This week, I have been asked to imagine that I will be working with a family that has recently emigrated from a country I know nothing about. As the demographics in our community changes, this is becoming more common.  As educators and advocates for children and families, we need to plan for working with these families and prepare for their arrival in our programs. 

The country I chose is India. Best Buy is a local company that employs several professionals from India at its headquarters.  As a result, we have enrolled several of these families in our program.  In order to better prepare myself and my team, these are some things that I would do.  India is rich with culture and history.  I would spend time reviewing the basic background of the culture, including religions, traditions, and customs.  I would use websites like Wikipedia, the U.S. Department of State, and Lonely Planet.  Next, I would explore local organizations and resources like the India Association of Minnesota to connect the new family with support services if needed.  I would secure an interpreter if the family did not speak English so that we could communicate effectively before the child starts in the program and after to ensure a smooth transition.  I would have a meeting with the teaching staff to talk about the culture and traditions of the family.  Finally, I would support the classroom in creating an environment that is respectful and engaging for the child and the family.  This includes providing images, books, activities, and learning experiences that reflect the child's home culture.

Through all of this preparation, I would hope that it would increase our confidence in interacting with the family and make the transition of the family into the program smooth and seamless.  In addition, I would hope that it would create an environment that would encourage the family to be involved in the program, adding a richness to the classroom that will benefit the children and the staff.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

     As we have explored these ideas of bias, prejudice, discrimination, and oppression, I have become more sensitive to the subtle ways the media often expresses some form of discrimination toward an individual or group.  In television shows, mostly crime shows, there continues to be a theme of black males playing the role of the criminal.  In the last blog posting, I shared an incident on a comedy where a white male professional calls his assistant who is from India "Mogli".  As a society we have become immune to the subtle, and often blatant nature of such biases.  It is frightening to think of the impact it is having on the children of today that grow up in homes where the television is on both for active watching and as "background noise".  I do not envy parents of today that must compete with media for the attention of their children.
      In each incident, there is diminished equity for the individual. As roles of criminals are played by black males, the idea becomes that it must be true in greater society.  It does not seek to dispel the myth that black males are criminals and, as I said earlier, the impact of that image on young children can only be harmful.  If it were up to me, shows like that simply would not exist.  As for the comedy program that pokes fun at the ethnic origin of its characters, it diminishes the equity that is portrayed in professional settings.  The fact that the character played by the white male holds a sense of power over the other and is representative of the dominant culture, the interpretation of such a scenario is dangerous.  It conveys the idea that people of color cannot hold a position in leadership and that, as an assistant, comments about them are condoned.  I could not believe it when I heard it, and yet, the live audience or the laugh track reinforced how funny it was supposed to be as a joke.
     I think that in order for these kinds of images to change and make a difference, media should begin casting characters that reflect greater society.  People should begin to recognize these subtle attacks on individuals and groups and start talking about it.  Since they are so subtle, or are simply "how it has always been", the more we bring it to light, the better possibility of it changing.