What I have learned

As I sit and think about the past 7 weeks and scan through my notes, I realise that the words “diversity” and “anti-bias” have taken on new meanings in my vocabulary.  

An educator must no longer be restricted by the suggested norms of a classroom setting.  An educator must actively take into account the fact that there will be children from diverse ethnic backgrounds, differing developmental and learning needs.  In assessing a child, an educator must also take into account the family and social backgrounds of the families of their students.  Children have to live in poverty; they experience traumatic situations through violence and stress.  Therefore, our classrooms must become havens of safety and security, but must also reflect the lifestyles and backgrounds of the children who spend many hours within its walls.

In my studies, I encountered the principle that anti-bias education facilitates the examination of my understanding of children’s lives and the important need to conduct self-reflection so that I can understand my own life.  The basis of anti-bias education is that all children should be able to blossom and flourish irrespective of their ethnicity, abilities, backgrounds, and developmental level.  My biases should not prevent a child from developing to the fullest.   My prejudices should not cause a child to be exposed to harmful influences, abuse, and/or exploitation.  

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field is the need for standardized curriculum.   Therefore, a required course in the education of all early childhood educators would be Anti-Bias Education which would include the following goals as part of the program (Derman-Sparks, & Edwards, 2010):

• Each child will demonstrate self-awareness, confidence, family pride, and positive social identities.
• Each child will express comfort and joy with human diversity; accurate language for human differences; and deep, caring human connections.
• Each child will increasingly recognize unfairness, have language to describe unfairness, and understand that unfairness hurts.
• Each child will demonstrate empowerment and the skills to act, with others or alone, against prejudice and/or discriminatory actions.

As I complete another course in my venture in early childhood studies, I would like to say thanks to Dr. Janet Kien for her constructive and insightful direction over the past few weeks.  It was greatly appreciated.  To my group members, it was great being on this journey with you, and I hope that you learned from me, as much as I learned from you.  Your viewpoints and perspectives always caused me to look at different topics in a new light.  All the best in your future studies and let us endeavour to utilise the learning tools that we have gained over the past few weeks.

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves.  Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).