Blog Assignment

My sister Carmalita demonstrates competent communication as a classroom teacher giving strategies to help children be successful in their course work in the classroom.  The behaviors I see Carmalita display when teaching are practicing good eye contact, when a student has lost their attention instead of singling them out she goes and stands near the child.  After demonstrating what she wants children to learn, she allows them to explain what they got from the teaching.  I would want to model my own communication behaviors after Carmalita.  I believe it is important to respect children learning and the amount of information children are able to take in.  I believe by asking children to explain what they took in from the teaching validates their individual learning.  

Professional Hopes and Goals

Professional Hopes and Goals

The means and hope I have now, after this class is that I’m able to understand people without any biases or stereotypes. I hope that from what I have learned I’m able to share with children and families to help them be better people so that we can all live in this world with peace.

The goal I would like to set for early childhood educators about issues related to diversity, equity, and social justice is to make no assumptions and to observe and learn.

Thank you, to my entire colleague for all of your hard work these eight weeks.  I have learned from each of you, your insights have helped me to gain more knowledge in many areas. 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

One memory of an incident involving prejudice, bias and oppression that I have is of an over weight women that work at my same employment.  This woman is moved around each year due to her weight.  I understand that a building has to be schedule due to the concerns of the students.  But, others and I cannot help but see that in most of the cases that seemed not to be the problem in continuing to move this woman around as administration has done. I believe this is truly a prejudice because of this woman’s weight a bias against people over weight and a way of oppression to get her to give up and resign from her job.

I believe the ways that this specific bias, prejudice and oppression diminish equity is this woman feeling she has no recourse in fighting back.  If that means to find a lawyer or going to the “Nea” to help her make sense of what’s going on and to give her some help.  Another, way this incident diminishes equity is by keeping all of us quite and afraid to talk about it with someone of authority or even among each other it has silenced us all.

This incident brought feelings of feelings of oppression not having a voice.  Although, this is not directed at me, it makes me feel like “what if it was you.”  When I think about being a “slave” and the

“Slave” that got in trouble for no reason and all the ones who stood back in fear if they said something they would get it too.  This is how this makes me feel that I could get it too.  Although, I am not her size I am over weight.

I believe the leadership has to change to turn this situation into an opportunity for greater equity.  Someone needs to remove this leadership “that” will make a statement that this behavior will not be tolerated.  If, the leadership is not changed the only other way I see our staff has a chance is by professional development being brought in to bring awareness to this type of bias, prejudice and form of oppression.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The capital of Togo is Lomé. From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading centre for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared Togoland a protectorate. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960. In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president (Listofcountriesoftheworld.com 2012).

The five was I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family.

1.     Learn the language spoken in Togo.

2.     Learn who is the head of the family

3.     Learn things that offend their culture

4.     I would help connect them with people of their culture

5.     I would research the sufficiance behind why the United States was the country of choice?

I hope I will develop a deeper understanding of other cultures than the ones always studied in our classrooms.  I hope this will give me a chance to learn a new language.  I believe families will benefit by being having someone to greet them and understand their culute.  This will give them confindence build trust and make them feel comfortable.  I believe this will allow families to trust me and open up to me quicker.  This will show families that I respect them and their culture first and tha tthey are welcome in the United States of America.

Reference
www.listofcountriesoftheworld.com 2012. Country of Togo.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

 In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?  This school year I have experienced more than one situation that relates to prejudice with my supervisor at work.  One was when he stated that I had been absent more than any teacher this school year.  This was totally untrue but, I felt that if I had made a comment are tried to defend myself it would appear disrespectful. I believe the incident diminished equity because it put me in a position were I felt I could not defend myself.  Even though it was not right for the supervisor to talk about or compare me to others during my personal evaluation.

 What feelings did this incident bring up for you?  I do feel life my feeling were oppressed and my rights were taken away from me.  The incident also, left me wondering about people that are in leadership roles.

  What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?  I believe supervisor should take an diversity class such as myself to be in a leadership role.  It would also, help for male supervisor to have on going professional development classes to help them learn how to communicate to women.