How do we help children see different perspectives about racism, bias, and discrimination?

Everyone in this world deals with racism, bias, or discrimination. From these negative beliefs and values it can be communicated through books, magazines, media, and other communication. Children will begin to follow and act these norms in their communities. Teachers need to educate children and families that racism, bias, and discrimination can ruin a child’s perspective, confidence, and life style.

From the book Rethinking Early Childhood Education (RTECE) quotes, “If a child can be shown how to detect racism and sexism in a book, the child can proceed to transfer the perception to wider areas” (Pelo 211). In other words a child will learn how to see both sides of a story. Children will understand how it feels to be a racist and understand how it feels to be discriminated. One of the key resorts is to find a book that’s appropriate for children. How do you do that? The book RTECE explains there are ten guidelines on how to analyze children’s books for racism and sexism.

What else can we do besides finding appropriate books to teach children racism, bias, and discrimination? The book RTECE also states that music is for social justice. There are many different reasons why music is great for everyone. Music offers cultural diversity, create bonding, encourage integration, and many other positive qualities.

From my experience music can help children express their feelings or learn different feelings to communicate with one another. Working at a preschool made me realize that children learn easier with music. Children are able to learn different cultural music and genre. They have the opportunity to share with the class how they feel about the different types of music. Some children agree and disagree with each but help them create a bond.

Overall these are all great ideas and practices. How can we go further? How can we make our communities more involved with these issues of racism or biases? Are there more effective activities we can do to help children and families?

How can we support our children?

Lately our economy is struggling. Many people have to work two to three jobs just to pay the bills. Many families in United States can't afford to take off to take care of their children. Day cares and preschools are too expensive for most families. The book Rethinking Early Childhood Education explains most major industrialized countries have maternity and parental leave for newborns. But sadly the United States does not provide maternity and parental leave. Many families struggle to make payments or if they're lucky grandparents have to watch newborns when parents are working.

The story about Who Cares for Our Children? states that many countries in Europe have great educational benefits. In addition, teacher get paid just as much as doctors because their value of the educational field is high. It's said to see in the United States that some jobs that don't need a degree pay more than teachers which needs a degree.
How can we support these families? What can we do to provide education for the children? What we can do as a community is to raise money for unfortunate families. As a community we can make changes with the state and maybe go farther, making changes so our country can support early childhood education. It's sad that families have to take their children out of preschool because they can't afford it. We need to make options and fight for our beliefs in order to get results.

When can we just all get along and be happy?

If we just get along and understand each other, wouldn't it be a perfect place? I guess everyone is not perfect and we all have to learn and understand others differences. Just some people take longer than others. For example, in the book Rethinking Early Childhood Education explains how people with differences are speaking their mind. They feel it's finally okay to tell people they love someone who's the same gender, different race, and other reasons. This helps children see different perspectives and be able to allow difference in their lives. Children will be able to accept them and themselves even if they are different from the norm.

For example, I have co-workers that are confident with themselves being gay. They are open to answer curious questions and be okay with it. I believe children need to be educated because everyone has feelings that can be hurt. By reading stories about different kinds of families will help children understand there are now difference and its okay to have two moms or two dads.

I have two aunties and I'm proud of them being open with our family. As long as they're happy with each other I'm grateful to have them in my life. That's why I want to educate and make people understand that it's okay to be who they are.

Will prejudice, racism, and bias ever end?

All over around the world people experiences prejudice, racism, or bias in their lives and around them. Just because you're dark, white, large, small, male, female you're not part of the group. From the book Rethinking Early Childhood Education tells a story about a Spanish boy Ernesto not liking the color of his skin. How did he get the image of darker people are considered ugly? Children at school would tease him and call him monkey just because of his dark complexion and curly hair. His and many environments does not accept these biases because of their parents, media, and other environmental influences.

When my mom was dating my dad who is Okinawan. My mom's grandma who is pure Japanese did not approve my dad because he's Okinawan. She believed that Okinawans are lower class people and did not have pure white skin like the Japanese. But my mom didn't care about my dad's ethnic background or how he looked. My mom loved him for his personality and was respectful towards her and others.

Overall I believe prejudice, racism, and bias will always be around but hopefully minimized to a very small percentage. From the story Raising Issues of Race with Young Children explains how children at age six are already experiencing racism or bias. For example, "The brown kid can't be in our group." By preventing these actions and beliefs teachers are inputting multicultural and anti-racism in the curriculum. Children are able to understand and mature enough to learn what's going around our environment. But how well are children are going to apply it? How well parents, teachers, and families are able to support multiculturalism and anti-racism?

Why do we force children to grow up too fast?

I remember growing up as a kid I had time to play with my peers, make new friends, and able to participate in physical education and music. Sadly this generation is changing, children need to fit certain standards to get into kindergarden. Why do we go school? To learn how to write, read, solve problems, and ability to interact appropriately. The story The Scripted Prescription by Peter Campbell explains how a girl named Vivian was intimidated and did not like school because of taking a test. Vivian's mother explains how the teachers were not personable at all, they were only there for Vivian to take the test.

I believe children should have the opportunity to create a bond with teachers in order to begin learning. It is very important for teachers offer different learning opportunities because every child learns differently and learns in different paces. From my experience, I work with a girl with autism. Teachers give her loads of homework and projects for her to complete with minimal instructions. My client is a very determined student that always want to get the job done. She will make the effort to do her work during break, lunch, after school program, and home. I would suggest her to take breaks but she would refuse. This cuts out all her opportunities to interact with her peers and teachers. From this result I had asked her counselor if we could minimize her work load or find some other alternative to help her balance her school and social life.

In conclusion, I am still trying to find ways on how to make children feel balanced with school and fun. Children also need to learn appropriate social skills when media is beginning to be very inappropriate. But I'll always have questions to be solved. What can you do to encourage children to socialize with their peers or teachers? What incentives can I offer my client to take a break?

Why is it important to learn other perspectives?

Why is it important to see the world in different perspectives? Why do we have be sensitive why other cultures and beliefs? All of these questions where thought in my head from reading the two stories Why We Banned Legos and Rethinking the Three Little Pigs. These stories explains how to teach children to look into different perspectives because we don't want others to feel left out or discouraged. For example, Carl and Oliver are examples on how Legos could be unfair and non-collaborative. This incident explains how some children could have more power than others. Also just because on the shape, size, or color determines that is better than any other lego.

Luckily, teachers and parents were very consistent and motivated to teacher their children how to be cooperative, collaborative, and able to problem solve. The reason this was so successful is because teachers and parents presented different perspectives for the children to visualize on why legos could be a bad influence with inequality. Even when the children could not see the bad side teachers and parents did not give up, but gave different examples for children to solve on their own to understand the problem.

From reading these two stories made me realize how careful you have to be on selecting activities for children. We as teachers need to find appropriate and effective activities to help children grow with all developmental areas. Since we live in Hawaii we have a large ethnic diversity. For that reason we need to be open-minded and able to adapt with different beliefs and habits. For example, I work with a girl who have a strong Filipino background. I make sure to research on their culture and customs so I can make her feel comfortable. I would ask about their food and traditions. She was happy to share her culture and also asked about mine. This created a stronger bond because this shows that we respect each other and willing to work with one another.

Is sex-role stereotypes ever going to end?

From the book Rethinking Early Childhood Education mentions around 40 years our society has experienced changes of gender equity in education after a trip to the mall. They say that toys stores still remain selling sex-role stereotype toys. The norm for boy toys are G.I. Joe, cars, trucks, weapons, and other destructive toys, and for girls are Barbie, Polly pocket, dress up, and other dainty toys.

Now teachers are trying to change it up. They want to teach children anybody can play with any toy. You don't have to be a girl to play with dolls or you don't have to be a boy to play action figures. We have to try and make children to feel comfortable to do anything. For example, growing up as a kid I would always want the boy toy from McDonalds because of the car. But my mom said "No you're a girl and girls get the Barbie not cars. I couldn't understand why it was such a big deal. All my life I was puzzled and wonder why I couldn't get dirty with my boy cousins or play sports. Later on, my teacher spoke with my mom and said that I was very talented in sports and I should try out. My mom was very amazed by my teacher's comments that she accepted who I am and let me be whoever I wanted to be.

From reading both stories, I was able to relate to it because I was exactly like that. Therefore, whenever I had the chance to teach children or work with my clients I always made sure that they can do anything what they love. No one can stop them and they're unique in what they do. Every obstacle is a challenge to better themselves and to be better and stronger people.

Do you think we can find our way back?

“We live in a culture that dismisses the significance of an ecological identity, a culture that encourages us to move around, rather than by intimate connection to the land, the sky, the air. Any place can be home.” Ann Pelo mentioned this quote in the book Rethinking Early Childhood Education. This explains our generation people don’t really have a place called home. I believe we are taking things for granted. For example, in Hawaii people built golf courses, homes, buildings, and hotels on secret Hawaiian lands. Technology, economy, government, and political reasons are destroying many Hawaiians that cherish their lands and nature.

Another example, countries building transportation, cutting down tree, and wasting water. These actions affect our environment and health. If we just conserve, recycle, and reuse items, we can teach children and others great habit to save our earth.

As teachers we need to teach children how to connect to a place, find their ecological identity, and help shape themselves to their own culture and social identity. We need to show children different emotions, perspectives, and use collaboration to start this journey. When children have these connections they begin to be confident with learning and comfortable in their own skin.

Ways to support or help engage these concepts are to read books and have activities that relate to endangered species, rainforest, pollution, recycling, and different cultural connections to the earth. From doing these activities and reading children broaden their perspectives about our environment and lifestyles. Children will begin to appreciate where they live and contribute great actions on how to take care of our environment.

Should I fight for what I believe is right?

From high school to beginning of college I always seemed to be the follower just because I didn't want to cause tension. From this action, I realized I'm only hurting myself. Now I began to come out of my shell and fight for my own and other rights. Sometimes I win my battles and sometimes I lose. But on the end I will always try to do the right thing and stand up for what I believe in.

The story about "Unwrapping the Holidays," by Dale Wess reflects on her difficult first year of teaching. She believed during holidays like winter celebrations, teachers should recognize all winter celebrations like Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Winter Solstice. Many teachers were against it and felt they have more than enough experience on how to celebrate holidays. But this teacher fought for what she believe in by educating teachers and children. She also tried to see both ends of the spectrum to not disrespect others. This teacher is a great example of teaching children diversity, determination, confidence, and cooperation.

When I worked at a preschool as an aide I had approached a similar situation. One incident I had faces was when a teacher made the children do an art activity on cows. She wanted the class to draw, color, and cut out a cow exactly like her model she created. When the children couldn't do it, the teacher made them redo it and help them draw it for them. After the activity I had suggested the teacher to construct free art activities that can expand their creativity. The teacher was furious we me and mention she know what she's doing and taught for years. I respected her for what she preached but I still stuck to what I believed in. So when it was my turn to come up with an art activity I had children to make a collage with different colors, textures, and sizes of paper. The children were able to create anything they wanted. The next day, the teacher made the children make puppets by coloring a lion, cutting, and pasting it on a brown paper bag.

Later I decided to speak with our director about this situation. The director agreed and decided to mention is on our monthly meetings. Some teachers took the advice and some teachers believe parents won't appreciate it their child's creative art work. On the end I believe I am one step closer to my goals on creating a appropriate learning environment for children.

Should I fight for what I believe is right?

Why were we raised to think different is bad?

It's funny how young infants, toddlers, and children are able to differentiate things because how other peers and adult react to certain actions. For example, the book Rethinking Early Childhood Education tells a story about Head Start merging with the early intervention program. A teacher from this program explains about her struggles in the beginning dealing with a child named Nyla who has cerebral palsy. She was a little awkward that she realized that it affected the children. The children wasn't comfortable with Nyla until the teacher became more involved. When the teacher took the initiative to include and support Nyla, children were able to do the same.

I am happy to see schools in Hawaii supporting early intervention. I'm a skills trainer at a local middle school and try to support other children to be very respective. I always try to make my clients see that different isn't bad, different is unique and special. If we're all the same then we would be boring and have not close relationships with each other.

Another topic I would like to acknowledge is integrating different languages. In Hawaii, we have a wide diversity of ethic backgrounds. The book Rethinking Early Childhood Education also explains how integrating indigenous languages may have challenges but it's for improvement of the community.

From my experience when I used to work at a preschool, we had children with different ethnic backgrounds. Our class would support different languages by teaching numbers and different foods. We also encourage parents or family members to visit the class to teach us about their ethnic background.

Overall, I hope these positive actions help our community and country to be in a positive environment. I want every generation to have to ambition to want to be confident with themselves and respect others. Being different is not bad, being different is a gift and we should love these qualities about us.

Trying to find the appropriate environment

As an early childhood educator you mainly want to provide a safe and appropriate environment for each individual. Creating activities that fit each individual's developmental level. The parents are the main people who know their child. Teachers need to be open with any suggestions parents give them. For example, the story I Just Want to Read Frog and Toad, by Melanie Quinn explains how a mother who was an experienced elementary teacher and college professor believes her son Eamonn is not getting the appropriate education for him.

Eamonn's mother believe the Houghton Mifflin Program does not follow the curriculum for a first and second grader. She mention couple stories that don't have correct grammar and appropriate wording choices. But when Eamonn went to second grade, the teacher had granted her request and now Eamonn enjoys reading and likes to writes his own stories. This little story explains how it's so important to be an open-minded teacher. How just following some suggestions can make a big difference in someone's life.

Another story called Strawberry Fields Forever by Cirila Ramirez explains how to help children with language and cultural barriers. A teacher was not lucky enough to have a teacher to help her with her education. Therefore, when she became a teacher she was able to relate to the children who struggle to speak and learn a different language and culture. One of the most important activities she did to help these specific children was to read books and stories that relate to their own culture/environment. After that she had noticed more progress in these students.

From reading these stories made me have more ambition and ideas one how to be a better teacher. I really agree with implementing many language and literacy activities will help the child improve in all developments. When children are able to achieve their goals then they will be more confident and challenge themselves to be better. In conclusion, we have to sometimes think out side of the box and be open with new things in order to achieve higher goals.

Babies come to a world filled with technology

Many people have different opinions whether children should play on the computer, or not play on the computer at a young age. As years pass by, children at the ages 2-5 already have the skills to work on the computer. It's so amazing children this young are able to go on the internet, play games, and even chat.

I believe children at the ages 0-6 should minimize or do not play on the computer. The book "Rethinking Early Childhood Education," states in the first two years of life, networks of connections are forming for social, emotional, and cognitive abilities (Pelo 76). Thus, children need human interaction to learn language, emotions, and ways of communication.

Recent generations, I had noticed many children have difficult time making appropriate conversations. For that reason, children are busy playing on the computers, watching television, or play video games. Another factor, parents are too busy with work because of our bad economy. Most parents have to work two jobs to supports their family.

In conclusion, I believe caregivers and teachers need to encourage social interaction by creating appropriate learning activities, free play, and be open with emotions. Children need to feel they can trust adults and peer in order for them to trust themselves and be confident.

Everyone's journey begins

Everyone has the chance to make a difference in people's lives. We just need to navigate in the right direction. For instance, teaching can make a huge impact in the students' lives. But it could be a good or even bad impact. When I was reading "Our Journey Begins," by Susan Bernheimer explains how a teacher tries to find ways to reach her students to better their education. She went through many obstacles but never gave up. One way she reached her students, was asking a question about "what they think is most difficult about raising our children today?"(Bernheimer 4) In result, students made conversations because it was towards they interest.

Furthermore, another topic that is giving children tests. Do children improve their test scores from taking tests? This issue creates a lot of conflicts within the education society. I believe children create more anxiety and low self-esteem when taking tests. The story "Think Less Benchmarks," by Amy Gutowski explains how children are taking tests called adequate yearly progress (AYP). A teacher feels AYP is not appropriate for children because the test does not relate to teacher's benchmark/format. Hence, this teacher believes children could do something more productive than just filling in bubbles. Some studies discovered that children develop a negative thought about tests. Children will tend to score bad because there's so much anxiety. C

In conclusion, I believe we as teachers need to find ways to open up children and make them feel comfortable. Working with each individual and finding their interest can help children's motivation towards education. Also making a positive environment can help them achieve more obstacles. For example, I work with special needs children. I always try to keep them involved with many different social groups to help them feel comfortable, and they are no different from the others. In result, they feel comfortable in their skin and have confidence to asks anyone for assistance.

My journey had been through rocky roads, but I will keep on moving forward and find my destination to be a great teacher who makes a difference in children's lives.

Being different is another word unique

Many people has different perspectives of the world. Their are different cultures, beliefs, and values people practice. Therefore, there's no correct way on doing things, we just have different techniques to accomplish different goals. But why do people still act bias when there's something different? Are they scared to try new things? The book called "Rethinking Early Childhood Education," edited by Ann Pelo explains how to be culturally sensitive in teaching and learning. For example, children from age 2-5 can already pick up some biases. For example, darker skinned people are different from whited skinned. Another bias is girls has to play with dolls and boys plays with G.I. Joe.

As teachers and parents, we need to encourage multicultural and anti-bias activities for children to be comfortable in there skin. For example, I am a skill trainer for different aged children. Children with disabilities want to feel accepted and since they have early intervention programs. These individuals have an easier time blending in with the other children. Also the other children have the opportunity to learn and interact with these individuals. Soon later, when they get to know each other, they figure out that they are no different. Every child is unique in their own way. If we were all the same, the world would not be able to develop smoothly. We need teachers, doctors, janitors, cooks, nurses, and etc. in order to develop a community.

In conclusion, we will always have to face biases and racism throughout our lives. But if we teach our new generations, children will more confidence in themselves the succeed in anything.

Life can be a bumpy road

Everyone goes through bumps on the road, its just finding the best route to good from your point in your life. Sometimes we feel confident, sometimes we feel unsure, and sometimes we just don't care. From the quote written by Delpit explains that we need to sometimes open up in order for others to help you or other open up in return. Which this leads to the Neo-Socratic Method. This method will help you organize your thoughts to find your way of thinking and how you can interact with others.

This can relate yourself with teaching children. In order to teach children, you have to win their trust. In order to receive their trust, you have to trust yourself.