Professional Hopes and Goals

Diversity is a big part of our world and should be a part of the education setting. Each child is diverse and deserves a full, appropriate education. I hope that in every education setting I work in I am able to not only implement a more differentiated environment but also change the views of those who are close-minded, racist or unaware of the advantages of diversity. 

I would like the early childhood field to create more programs for diverse families, legal immigrated families and families of lower socioeconomic status and to make diversity a part of the curriculum, not just a topic that is discussed every one in awhile or set aside to be celebrated one month a year. Every day should be culture or diversity day, because every day people live, work, go to school of all races, ethnicities and cultures. 

Diversity is a part of each of us and in our DNA. Diversity should be celebrated not shunned or discriminated against. Everything about our world is diverse. It shold not matter what color your skin is, where you were born, what language you speak, what kind og car your drive, what religion you practice or the clothes you wear. We are all people, we all think, feel, live. We are all equal.

Thank you everybody for all your insights, comments, lessons and hard work. Each one of you bring great teachings and knowledge to the education field. I wish you all the best in the remainder of your studies, life and taking a stand in the early childhood field. It has been a pleasure.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The country that I pick as the family's country of origin is Ireland. 
The first thing I would do is learn the basic top layer of culture and diversity about the area because without that you cannot understand the more in-depth and detailed aspects of the culture. 
Next I will then find out if they speak Gaelic or English or a different language and learn the basics of the language so that i can at least minimally communicate with the family and correspondingly teach them English if needed. 
I will learn about the specific area of Ireland that they are from, such as the customs, food, way of living, education system, workforce, geography, etc. 
I would then compare the cultures and diversities to the United States and have materials ready to help the family and child(ren) transition. 
If these cultures, traditions, ways of living, etc have not already been included, taught and accepted in my educational setting I would then implement them all immediately. 

By completing and implementing all these tasks I will create a welcoming, accepting, educational, fun and equal environment for the children and family. I will expose my educational setting to a new culture and teach them more about Ireland so that they will see the amazingness of different cultures and people and be accepting and open-minded to all so there is no discrimination. I will become more accepting and understanding of other cultures and create an environment that molds more well-rounded individuals. 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

We all use microaggressions to some extent at some point. Most of us I believe are not aware of it and would be ashamed if we knew what we had just insinuated. There are some people out there who may not realize what they are insinuating but be completely fine with what ‘hidden message’ they had just sent. Racism in any form, no matter how minor or substantial is unacceptable.  My friend JD, who lives in Black Mountain, N.C., is extremely racist though he does not believe he is. He makes more blatant racist comments then comments of microagression. When I was visiting him he made comments like: ‘they may be dressed nice but they are still lying and stealing niggers’, ‘I think tattoos are acceptable on men, but women are meant to be untouched’, ‘I cannot believe she has never stolen from work’ (about his African-American co-worker), and ‘I would never condone cheating but why did she cheat with a black man.’ I was shocked by how racist he is and how unfiltered he is with his comments. He has no idea how racist he is or does not care. His discrimination against others shows that he finds any race, ethnicity and diversity below his own and that specific ethnicities have certain 'jobs', i.e 'Asian women are only good for doing manicures and pedicures.' I was not comfortable with his comments and how deeply he believes that Caucasians are superior and better then anybody else. I understand why he feels that way, if you will, but I do not think that gives it justification. It really upset me and I tired to educate him on his views but he said he did not care and was too closed minded and like being that way. :-(  All I can say is wow! JD'S ideas, opinions and beliefs would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity.