My one hope that I have when I think about working with children
and families who come from diverse backgrounds it that I have the knowledge
about others and myself to help them feel welcome. I want to provide them with
a place where they feel comfortable and a part of. I want to provide an
appropriate and safe environment for children to learn, develop and grow. An
environment where all families feel welcome and a place that represents each of
my family’s cultures. To do this I need to understand myself first. I need to
peel away my layers and figure out who I am and how I became the person I am.
“No one escapes learning stereotypes and misconceptions…These lessons begin
when we are very young, taught initially and most powerfully by our family…all
of us still carry inaccurate and negative messages-even if we no longer believe
they are true-that can keep us from seeing each person as a unique, whole
person fully deserving of our respect” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012,
p. 23). If I want every one of the
families in my care to feel excepted and welcome I need to uncover my personal
biases, discomforts and misconceptions.
A goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related
to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to educate parents,
caregivers and other professionals on anti-bias education. What it is and how
you can accomplish it. Every person has misconceptions, biases, and
discomforts, no person can say they are free of these things. Many people do
not even realize they have misconception, biases and/or stereotypes. Anti-bias educators
hope that the “day will come when the ‘anti-bias’ part of that journey is no longer
needed because all children are growing up fully nurtured and able to be fully who
they are, with no barriers of prejudice, discrimination, poverty, or war. Then learning
about and valuing one another’s diversity will be a natural part of growing up”
(Derman-Sparks & Edwards,
2012, p. 157). It all starts with ourselves. If more people looked inward at
themselves they would begin to stop the perpetuation of biases, stereotypes and
misconceptions.
I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues. These last 8
weeks have been a very rewarding learning experience from me. I have enjoyed reading
your blogs and discussion posts. They have helped me look at many topics from a
new perspective. A perspective I would probably never have thought of! Thank you
again and I wish you all success in your educational journey for your Master’s Degrees
and in life!
Brandie
References
Derman-Sparks, L., &
Edwards, J. O. (2012). Anti-bias
education for young children and ourselves. Washington D.C.: National
Association for the Education of Young Children.
