Professional Hopes and Goals

There are many things I hope for working with children from diverse backgrounds. One hope I have is there will be continued research about ways to assist these children and families. I know there can be difficulties when children from diverse backgrounds come together. There will be many different personalities and cultures coming together. I want all children to be accepting of one another no matter the nationality. I also hope no teachers are not biased, myself included, when working with children of diverse backgrounds. Children need educators who will treat them fairly.

I also have many goals related to children in the early childhood field related to diversity, equity, and social justice. One of my goals is to continually study ways to better the childhood field for children and families, especially children from diverse backgrounds. All children should have a teacher who is knowledgeable and a teacher who strives to do what is best for the students. I want to learn as much as I can to assist these children and families.

I would like to thank my instructor and my colleagues for another wonderful class.  This class was one of the best I’ve partaking in thus far. I have learned so much from all of you. I wish you all well with your continued studies.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The country I chose to explore is Austria. It is located in central Europe, north of Italy. Their language is German. Austrians greet by quick handshakes while maintaining eye contact. More information can be found at: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/austria-country-profile.html

I know that their culture will be different from my culture. To prepare myself to assist this family, I will research their culture and their family’s culture.

I will search for books, pictures, videos, etc. about Austria that I can share with the class and so the student can feel welcome. The fact that their language is German, I’m sure I would need a translator to assist with the communication process with the child and family. I will also learn some of the German language. I will encourage the student to share with the class information about their culture. While I am learning about their culture, I will also ensure the student learns about the United States’ culture. I will invite the family to come in to observe our class activities and to share things about their country.

Preparing for the children and family of Austria will help the children and family feel welcomed and valued because we are acknowledging their culture.

 

 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

I did not witness this event I am going to share, but it happened to someone very close to me. Last weekend my daughter went to the restaurant to pick some food up for us. As she arrived she said she saw a Caucasian man walking around the parking lot. She went in the restaurant to pick up the food. When she came out she said the man approached her cussing and asked her why was she parked so close to him. My daughter said his truck was on the line. She said “I’m sorry, but this was the only parking space”. She said he then said I don’t want to hear that (curse words). She said he starting calling her Nigga, trash, and other words. She said he got in her car and he stood in front of the car cussing at her and calling her racial names. She proceeded to pull off and he moved out the way. As she pulled off she said he looked at her tag on her car to see what county she was from and he said go back where you came from while still cussing.  My daughter called me in tears. When she arrived home she was still in tears and shaken. We tried to keep her daughter from seeing her this way because we knew she would have questions as to why her mother was crying. I told my daughter she should have called the police because he could have tried to hurt her physically. He had already hurt her emotionally. I was hurt and angry. I wanted to call the police and report him, but she said she saw him get in his truck and leave. Customers in the restaurant and others, who were arriving, witnessed this event. My daughter said no one said anything to him but they were commenting saying how awful it was.

Equity was diminished because my daughter had a right to park and be at the restaurant just as he did. He was the one who was not parked correctly, but he felt the need to accuse my daughter because she was African American. My daughter also looks very young for her age. I told her he also probably thought she was a young teenager who easy to pick on.

All people who are prejudice are going to have to change the way they think about people of other nationalities in order for there to be opportunity for greater equity. A person’s skin color does not define who they are. This world is so full of prejudices, and some against their won race.