Professional Hopes and Goals

·         One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)

The one hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse background is to value their culture and become culturally sensitive as well.  It is very important to get to know much as possible about children and families’ culture background, living style, language and where they came from. As an educator, I believe it is helpful and valuable to implement various lessons/activities that support diversity within classroom. Gonzalez-Mena (2011) states, it is so important that diversity is a benefit, whereas children learn new things and take on new languages, new ideas, new perspectives, which should be in addition to what they have at home. I believe many people are labeled and talked about because of lack of understanding of how they live, where they come from and about their culture as a whole. I believe child who is being exposed to various cultures will become sensitive and acceptable of other children who are different from them.  

·         One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length)

The one goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to create a rich learning environment that is welcoming for all children and their families’ culture is supported without biases, prejudices and discrimination. In spite of children and families cultural differences it is essential to allow them to bring what they have to the classroom, where children are able to learn about other cultures. Gonzalez-Mena (2008) believes the way culture is learned is from people around you. This will eliminate any negative behavior or feeling toward a particular child who are different in language, cultural background, values and beliefs.

·         A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

I would like to say “thanks a million” to all my colleagues for their support, encouragements, knowledge and wisdom that was shared with me throughout the duration of this course. It has been a pleasure to work together as we learn about the perspective diversity and equity among children and their families. I look forward to future courses together where we can all continue to share our understanding and knowledge about the early childhood field through discussions and blogs assignments.

References:

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008).  Perceiving and responding to differences.  In Diversity in

Early Care and Education (5^th ed., pp. 8-13).  Boston, MA: McGraw Hill

Laureate Education (Producer).  (2011). Culture and diversity (video file).  Retrieved

            from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_

id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_6241660_1%26url%3D

Welcoming Families From Around the World

            The name of my family’s country of origin I have chosen is Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa and it has some interesting facts about that wonderful country. The Great Zimbabwe name has been derived from “Dzimba dza mabwe”, which means “great houses of stone” in the shone language. There are approximately 12.6 million people living in Zimbabwe and about 16 different languages spoken as well. One of the amazing attractions is the Magnificent Victoria Falls that forms the world’s largest curtain of falling water is on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the summer months the temperatures are usually in the high 20s°C (though humidity can make it feel hotter) and the winter begin in July with the temperature averaging 14degree Celsius. Although the amount may varies, it rain falls between November-march where the weather can be humid and sticky. From the 11th–15th century, the Shona peoples thrived in a prosperous society, worshipping a supreme deity called Mwari. Many Zimbabweans use traditional healers, who offer both spiritual and medicinal advice.  In Zimbabwe the most valuable crop is tobacco – it was the top agricultural export in 2009.

            Two years ago, the United Nations Children’s agency (UNICEF) found that many rural schools were shutdown. The main problem was that teachers could no longer be found eligible to work in the sector.  number of schools operating in urban areas was better, though schools were often poorly staffed and equipped. Children who pass their primary exams are entitled to carry on to secondary level for two, four or six years. For those able to complete secondary education and carry on further, there are several universities and colleges.

The five ways I will like to prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family:

1.      Developing a personalized contact and relationship with the individuals and their families.

2.      To learn much as I can about the culture of the family I will be in contact with

3.      Since there are about 16 different language spoken in Zimbabwe I would try to learn some phrases of the primary language spoken by the family

4.      Become educated in the cultural beliefs by learning their likes or dislikes

5.      I will learn and become familiar with the family’s way of living/and their country

            The preparation to become culturally responsive toward the family in Zimbabwe will help me as an educator to develop a strong and trusting relationship with them. I believe it is a great benefit for me to learn about another culture other than my own, because it teaches me to become culturally sensitive; as I familiarize myself with the language, belief, customs and way of living of the family from Zimbabwe. Another benefit to this preparation for me and the family is the exchange of information about each other culture and  to gain authentic respect for cultural differences.

References:

http://www.our-africa.org/zimbabwe/education-jobs

http://www.our-africa.org/zimbabwe/facts-figures

http://www.our-africa.org/zimbabwe/people-culture

http://zimbabwe.facts.co/interestingzimbabwefacts/aboutzimbabwefunfacts.php

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

One memory of a bias incident I witnessed was on the internet. There was a picture of a toddler who was crawling in the grass with a brown monkey, which was supposed to signify an African American child.

This bias incident is very disturbing, because it is clearly racism when a human being is classified as a monkey or ape. This picture makes me sad, angry and upset to know that someone thinks the child and that monkey are the same. Not only does this picture shows bias, stereotype and is offensive to African American people, but it also diminish equity; because there is no similar in the features (skin, skin tone, facial appearance or skin texture) at all between the two in this picture. I believe if society move from stereotypical comments, saying and pictures like these; then all children can truly be the same as well as treated the same.

References:

http://newsone.com/2187515/facebook-black-baby-as-monkey/