Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

As an educator in any environment when experiencing an 'ism' it is detrimental to the children, learning experience, families and educator. I cannot imagine experiencing an 'ism'. If i were to experience an 'ism' it would most likely be classism. I grew up in middle class and never really experienced any hardships. "Children learn about who is important enough to be visible and valued" from a variety of resources and experiences (Derman-Sparks, & Olsen Edwards, 2010). Individuals that have experienced hardships like poverty, hunger, immigration, etc have a different outlook on life. When experiencing classism parents that come from poverty or lower-income feel that I  cannot relate to them because I do not know what it is like to experience hunger, homelessness, despair, etc and do not know how to adequately help their children since i have not been in their situation. In some senses, they are correct, I have not experienced these situations but I have learned about them and how to deal with them. When experiencing classism it would be difficult to work with the parents and build a strong relationship to teach the child. If the child sees that the parents do not believe in me and doubt my teaching then the child will be disrespectful and think I cannot help them. The child will be less likely to participate in class, work hard, complete homework, etc. This will affect their overall learning and development. For example, one family does not have any health insurance so when their daughter gets sick they cannot take her to the doctors and she does not stay home from school because neither of the parents can afford to take off of work. This causes other children to get sick and miss school. When a note is sent home to the parents they are not very receptive and send a displeased response back. This causes more turmoil with the family and makes the environment even more unsettling and strained for their daughter. "Inequitable opportunities, privileges, and life experiences based on economic class deeply affect young children's lives" (Derman-Sparks, & Olsen Edwards, 2010)

 Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).