Professional Hopes and Goals

After the recent event with a parent that I referenced in my discussion post, my hope is that we all not only become anti-biased educators but that we also find a way to teach others, such as the parents of our students, to be eradicate their biases. My center is a fairly happy and harmonious place where most families get along well and work together.  However, recent events such as the one this past week remind me that there are still ripples and waves of racism in our midst.  
                                   

My personal goal is to be able to handle these situations with grace while preserving the dignity of every parent in the situation. I was thoroughly caught off-guard by the microaggression displayed by this parent, but I stood my ground. I just wish that I had the skills to turn it into an educational opportunity or the parent rather than a "shut-down" type of situation. For the early childhood field as a whole, I would love to see more training on how to handle these types of situations, more writings and articles about how to prevent them, and more stories of how others have dealt with the "isms" in their educational settings. 

I certainly want to thank all of you for your insights this term. This course has been eye opening and I consider it a privilege to have experienced it with all of you! I truly appreciate the diversity within our own group and the perspectives that you have ll brought to the discussions and blogs. I could not have possibly had a better group of colleagues with which to share this course, I am humbled by your experiences and the lessons I have learned form all of you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

Welcoming Families from Around the World

I chose to feature a family from Senegal. We have had a family from this area in our center before I became an administrator. I was a teacher in another room, so I did not have that many experiences with this child. However, there are several families from this country in our area. As the administrator for my center, I am now be at the forefront of welcoming families from this country and many others as they enter our program.
                                  
My first order of business is to be welcoming. I would be just as warm and welcoming as I would with any other family. We try our best to create a comfortable environment for all families with a friendly greeting and positive atmosphere.

As part of our enrollment an registration process, we are sure to ask of every family if there are any dietary restrictions for either allergies or religious purposes. Research shows that 92% of Senegal is Muslim and as such do not eat pork. We work with our local school system to have nutritious meals brought into the center. They are easily able to make substitutions for students with dietary needs such as these. I would assure the family that not only would a proper protein substitution be made but that it would be done so discreetly.

We also ask for proper proof of age documentation. The issues we encounter with birth certificates from other countries are twofold. First, we may not be able to read them although dates are usually easy to decipher. Second, the birth certificate may not exist at all. However, we are able to work around these issues with other forms of proof of age such as immunization records or immunization waivers.

Immunization waivers are also fairy common but not always something that is guaranteed. In the event that the family has a waiver, they would be assured that their child would still be safe. However, I would be sure to ask if there are any health concerns that I need to be aware of. In the past, the parents of a child with a waiver wish to be notified if certain communicable diseases enter the facility.

During the registration process, we spend a great deal of time with the family. I would be sure to ask questions about holiday observances, dietary needs, and religious holiday absences. In our past experiences, the family we had did not oppose our slight nods to the holidays of the dominant culture.

                                        

Another area that may need consideration is the area of language. The primary language of Senegal is French. The family we had many years ago spoke English fluently and did not need a translator. However, that may not be the case with all families from Senegal. There may be a need for a translator which can be provided for free by our local school system.

Being fully prepared for a family from Senegal or any other country is important. This shows respect for that family and all other families that enter the program. Any information gleaned from research or conversations with the family would be shared with teaching staff to enable them to provide the best care possible. Food service staff would need to be made fully aware of the child's dietary needs well before hand to ensure that the appropriate foods are on hand for the child.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

       When I was a child, maybe first or second grade, I became friends with a girl of a different race. There were not many African-Americans in our small Georgia town and they were mostly friends with one another. This girl and I sat near one another in our class and quickly became friends. We played on the playground together and ate lunch together in the cafeteria every day. It never occurred to me that this was not acceptable to my peers. At some point, I became aware of stares and whispers from other children and eventually from their parents. I can only assume that the other children had told their parents that I was friends with her and they did not approve. In that moment, as a six or seven year old child, I had to make a decision as to whether or not I cared what they thought. I decided I did not. I distinctly remember standing in the school hallway with its green walls and brown carpet with my friend. Another child asked me "Why are you friends with her? She's black!" Well, I have always been blessed with a vicious attitude even at age 6, so I yelled "SHUT-UP!" at the other girl. I promptly got in trouble with the teacher. I still didn't care. 

                                                        

      I do not think that in that moment I changed anyone's mind or effected any great social change, but I stood up for myself and for my friend. In that moment, I maintained my own standards for what was right regardless of what anyone else thought. I don't recall if the teacher called my parents over the incident, but I do not recall getting into trouble with them for it. If she did call, they certainly didn't feel like it was worth addressing. As I grew older, I realized there were many occurrences when I was reprimanded by school administration that my parents never felt the need to address with me. I suppose they did not feel as though it was a wise expenditure of their time!