PROFESSIONAL HOPES AND GOALS

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that they receive a non-biased, quality education equal to every other child in the classroom. The color, religion, culture shouldn't correlate with the education that they receive. I hope the parents get to have dialogue with the educator on a continuous basis so that they have full understanding of the curriculum and protocols. One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is that cultural diversity forums be scheduled at least three times a year for colleagues to confer and gain knowledge and awareness from each other. Thank you to my colleagues for your supports, comments and enlightening. I have learned so much in this course that I definitely will take from this experience. Good Luck in all your future classes. Keep striving!!!

WELCOMING FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Denmark is the name of my family's country of origin. In Denmark schools strive to provide children with academic skills, general competencies and opportunities for diverse, personal development. They also facilitate an atmosphere of equality and freedom of spirit. The world famous Lego building toys are from Denmark. If the classroom doesn't have any, I would invest in some for the classroom so that the child will have something familiar to play with. In Denmark children spend 3-4 hours per day outside tending to forests, gardens and playing. I would allow outdoor time to plant gardens. Denmark also also encourages the children to choose with what to play and with whom to play with. I would allow the children in class to have free time to do what they want for a little while. This will enforce there abilities to make choices. Denmark believes in Vygotskys's theory that social interaction fosters cognitive functions. Parents will be invited to the classroom and have one on one meetings with the educators to discuss the curriculum. Early childhood educators in Denmark value parent-child-educator interactions. I will continue to instill the importance of this vital communication. In keeping up with Denmark norms hopefully the transition to American education will be a smooth one for the child and the family...........References: www.eupedia.com/denmark/trivia.shtml www.oecd.org/education/schools/2475168.pdf pure.au.dk/ws/files/815/critical_perspectoves_on_danish_early_childhood_education_and_care_pure_.pdf

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF BIAS, PREJUDICE, AND OPPRESSION

I was 29 when I watched a movie called "Do The Right Thing" in 1989, with shock and dismay. This movie revolved around a hot summer in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, which is 90% Black. The story centered on an Italian pizzeria where all the Blacks spent their money. In this establishment, all the pictures on the wall were famous Italians. There on the walls were Frank Sinatra, Rocky Graziano and Tony Benett among others. The Blacks thought they should be represented on the walls too since they were the ones spending their money there. Sal, the owner, fought hard tooth and nail by saying no, it was his shop and that he could decorate the shop anyway he wanted to. One day all the tensions exploded. There was a brawl in which the pizza shop was destroyed by the Blacks. The owner and his sons were fighting against the Blacks also. A key player in the neighborhood and a neighborhood fixture Radio Raheem was killed in the melee by the cops. This movie diminished equity by the refusal of the owner to display any Black people on his walls. The feelings I felt went from rage to sadness that this incident could've been avoided. On one hand it was the owner's prerogative to put what he wanted on his walls. On the other hand tensions were rising and to keep the peace, one picture on the wall may have satisfied the need of acceptance by the neighborhood. The owner would have had to make the change. It was his opportunity to do the right thing. Reference:

Do The Right Thing. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097216/