What I have Learned

     The article, Who Cares for Our Children? By Valerie Polakow made me want to cry when I realized how far behind the USA is in the field of education, especially in the field of Early Childhood (Pelo, 2008).  I work with a woman who is from Germany, having raised her children there, and moved to the USA when they were grown.  She told me that the USA was far behind Germany and other European countries in the area of education.  She voiced her concern about the USA not working to advance Early Childhood Education.   I had a hard time believing that we are that far behind but the statistics speak for themselves.

  Poverty is the bias that touches my heart and I feel that is my goal, to work with women and children.  How can I help correct this situation? I know that this kind of assistance comes through one-on-one ministry. This chart shows poverty among women by race/ethnicity and age.

Thank you to my classmates for their discussion posts that have helped enriched my life and taught me many new perspectives.  A special thank you to Dr. Hertz for her professionalism and interest in me personally. 

References:

Pelo, A. (Ed.) (2008). Rethinking early childhood education. Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools. 

Women and Children in Poverty(2007), Google Images.  Retrieved from  http://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&   biw=1280 &bih=611&q=women+and+children+in+poverty&oq=women+and+children+in+po&gs_l=img.1.0                .0i24j0i5i24.1845.6952.0.10970.24.24.0.0.0.0.162.1843.23j1.24.0.eqrwrth..0.0...1.1.DkJkDtDDE5    A

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

Pain, heartache, rejection

Where do I go for relief

Who cares for me

Who cares who I am

I look down the dark street

No one is there

I look up the dark street

No one is there

I see a light in the distance

I follow the light

Who answers the doorbell

A teacher who cares

A teacher who puts herself aside

To care for me, and all the others

A teacher, a person I can trust

A teacher who will listen

A teacher who will direct my learning

A teacher who will develop me

Into a person who will achieve

And learn to love

Thank you to all the teachers

                    Who care!!

Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words

I do remember an incident that happened with my first son when he was small but old enough to recognize differences.

We lived in West Virginia, a place with many Black people.  We were walking down the street with Patrick in his stroller.  Suddenly Patrick said, “Daddy look at that man.”  This man was an older Black man: the man was offended.    Daddy said, “what about the man?”  Patrick said, “Look he has a beard.”

The man began to laugh, he thought Patrick was pointing out that he was Black but when he realized that Patrick was talking about his beard.  The beard was long and very white.  

Patrick had been exposed to many Black people, one of my best friends was Black and her mother ran a foster home for teenagers, over 101 children pasted through her home, with a mix of White and Black.  She called her house “The Oreo House.” 

I think the message to the child is that people can relate to each other and laugh at the assumptions of biases.

As an anti-bias teacher, a discussion about older men having beards would be appropriate.  I think a picture of men with beards is the answer to questions about beards.  I would use pictures of many ethnicities.  Pictures are worth a thousand words.  I use these pictures to  make the point of the importance of allowing the child to see what he wants to see.

 


Bearded Men retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=bearded+men&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=qQq&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_654UKa7BcXzqAGH0oHQBQ&ved=0CDQQsAQ&biw=1037&bih=652

Books

For those of you who do know, and for those that do not know, the two books I have written for children are at the publishers.  One is with the editor and will go next to the illustrator.  I am nervous and excited that this is a new journey in my life and one I feel God is calling me to follow.  I will let you know as soon as the first on is available, sometime after the first of the year.
All I can say right now is PRAISE GOD FOR HIS BLESSING AND PEACE as this process develops.

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

Why would you not include them in the classroom library!! Children need to know and be exposed the reality of life.  Two moms or two dads do not make for bad people, just a different idea of how they want to live their lives. Talking about the ways families are similar and ways they are different is important for children to experience.

· 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 would approach the issue with thoughts from the video, “Start Seeing Diversity: Sexual Orientation” says validation for all the kinds of families is important for children understand.  There is no evidence of LGBT personnel being child molesters.  Keeping children safe is primary.  “Actions rather than suspicions are what protect children”(Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p100). Sexual orientation has no place in making the decision for the appropriateness for hiring a teacher.  Pointing out to the parent/family member there are people of all orientation whether it be heterosexual, homosexual, people of color or ethnicity are caregivers/teachers for children.  In the end, it is the parents decision if they want their child to be in the center.  

References:

"Start Seeing Diversity: Sexual Orientation"(2009) Laureate Education, Inc.

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