Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about the work that I do with children and families in the early childhood field is that each child and family that enters into any ECE program is treated fairly, given an opportunity to share their culture, learn from others cultures and to never experience any biases. 

One goal that I have is to work with my program and centers and ensure that all cultures of the children enrolled into each of our classrooms are represented in the daily lessons, the learning centers and activities.  It is my goal that there will not be a dominate culture represented and that all cultures are created equal. 

Thank you to all of you that were able to share your struggles and personal stories.  By doing that you were able to enrich my life and ensure that we all benefited from this class.  Happy Holidays!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The country that I have chosen is Nigeria. 

I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive by doing the following.

1. Research the country - looking at the country's different newspapers and what I ever else I could find on line.  I would also keep in mind that not everything we read on the internet is true. 
2. I would like to meet with the family to learn more about that.  What their expectations are of our program. 
3. I would look at the child's enrollment paperwork to see if there is a local city listed that the family is from or anyother information that may be helpful. 
4. I would also try and learn a few simple phrases in the local language. 
5. Prepare some classroom materials for different lab areas - music from Nigeria, books that are culturally appropriate from Nigeria and dramatic play toys as well. 

By doing these things I would like to hope we can make the transition a little smoother for the family and child.I want to be able to keep an open line of communication with the family.  I also hope that we can be more culturally sensitive. 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

In the public school system that I grew up in I learned about the civil rights movement through history classes.  I remember thinking I am glad there are no longer people that think that way.  When I was in high school I had a friend that was African American that was sneaking around dating his girlfriend that was Caucasian and Asian.  The girl's mother would not allow her daughter to date him because of the color of his skin.   This girl felt torn between abiding by her mother (becuase that is what you are suppose to do) but on the same hand knew her mother was wrong for not getting to know this guy and not just judging him by the color of his skin.  They eventually broke up becuase the guy no longer wanted to be the reason the relationship between mother and daughter was strained.  For me as an outsider being friends with both of them it effected me.  I did not realize that people still had hatered for people because of the color of their skin.  I have many feelings about this - at first I was mad, angry, embarassed and even sad.  The mother needs to start looking at what is on the inside and not what is on the outside.  Why do we still live in a world where people are judged by the color of their skin?  At times I wish that eveyone was blind and we would never have to know what people looked like and we could only judge them based on the words they spoke and what is truly inside of a person.