What I Have Learned - EDUC 6357

 

There are many things that can be taking from this past 8 weeks in EDUC 6357. When I think about working with children and their families who come from diverse backgrounds is that I can build a solid relationship with both the children and their families that will provide me with a platform to reach their child developmental needs. I hope that I can uncover any hidden bias about other cultures, races, backgrounds or religions and approach them confidently but respectful.

A goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is to not to only teach the fundamentals and be an advocate but to make an effective long-term impact on the perspectives of children and their families, encouraging them to PAY IT FOWARD and leave an even bigger impact by applying what they are learning on the on-going issues of diversity, equity and social injustices to their daily lives and interactions with others.  

I appreciate all of the feedback and additional resources provided from all of my colleagues. I have enjoyed hearing everyone views and ideas from a personal and professional level of how many of our own childhood factors have played a major role in our current lives and how our biases can have an impact on the children we teach. 

Reference

Quotes:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/89860955044712242/

http://www.picturequotes.com/ive-learned-that-i-still-have-a-lot-to-learn-quote-356557

https://wisdomquotes.com/learning-quotes/

Diversity - Creating Art Through Song - EDUC 6357

 Jernigan and Daniels states "Racial stress can emerge when systems are oblivious or unwilling to acknowledge the presence of racism and its negative implications on the development of Black children and adolescents who are forced to find ways to cope with the ongoing psychological stress" (2011). As a consequence of law enforcement abuse of authority and lives loss, the current pandemic, and other life traumas locally and abroad with  no clear direction or sign of improvements I relish in children ability to be resilient. While educators do their best to curve the impact of racism or any form of discrimination by educating students on ways and reasons to treat each other equally, parents, media, leaders, and society as a whole must also acknowledge and play a role to remove any bias they have towards people of color. Over 30 years ago there was a song called "We are the World" that I believe equates to how we should embrace life and each other so that black and brown children and their families can live an equally fulfilling privileged life and not be limited according to the color of their skin. Below I have shared the original song and a modern version that was created as result of a tragedy in Haiti. Listen to the words closely. 

We Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official Video

WE ARE THE WORLD - Original - 1985

 

References

Laureate Education (2020). Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma: Racial Trauma in the Lives of Black Children and Adolescents: Challenges and Clinical Implications. Extra_Racial Trauma _2011_ Jernigan & Daniel.pdf 

We Are The World Haiti (2010). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI

We Are The World (1985). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7c-JOnPdw

"We Don't Say Those Words in Class" - EDUC 6357

 It is week 6 of EDUC 6357 and I can think of countless times that I have witnessed a time where a child has been silenced or reprimanded as a result of pointing out someone that they saw as different. It is rare that I am just shocked by what some kids will say but there is this one time I was just at a loss for words.  

 My friend has 2 granddaughters that always seem to say exactly what is on their mind. I can remember once we had planned to have brunch one Saturday after having a mani/pedi with the little princesses when one spilled juice on her clothes. We decided to take a detour to Target to get her something else to put on. We were in the checkout line when my friend youngest granddaughter Regan looked back at the woman standing behind us and proceeds to tell the lady that she must eat a lot because she was fat (insert bulging eyes and dropped mouth) . Then the older sister Mallory says to the lady our momma eats a lot that’s why she is fat. My friend Sandra was paying for her things when she grabbed both girls and placed her hands over their mouths while apologizing to the lady. Once we were out of the store, she took both girls to the side and told them that telling someone that they are fat can be hurtful and that if they can’t say anything nice, they should not say anything at all. Both girls looked at each other as if confused and asked their grandmother how that was not nice when they were telling the truth. Once she explained it to them a little more it seems they understood how that could have been hurtful and very much so disrespectful. My friend Sandra told them that they should always have something nice to say about everyone and they should let people know the nice things they like about them. So now the girls tell just about everyone that they are pretty or just smile. 

In a classroom setting presenting children with books or videos can help to build a better understanding of why telling someone they are fat, tall, short or different them themselves to be hurtful. I also think having a child write down how they would feel if someone were to say hurtful things to them would affect them so that they will be less likely to inflict that type of emotion upon someone else and incorporate it with positive attributes or ways to be kind. I honestly do not believe either of the girls meant any harm, but I also think that some of the things that they have heard is interpreted as acceptable or to be normal which made them comfortable to express themselves as they did.  

 Reference

Photo: https://www.animalrescueprofessionals.org/national-days/say-something-nice-day/