What I Have Learned

One hope that I have is to see better understanding and respect towards each other. Seeing the differences is natural, but what we need is to do is to respect and care for each other.

 If we can show/ teach our children the importance of belonging to a family, community, society and a country, they will have a better chance of creating a world that is full of equal opportunities to all beings regardless of their gender, color, faith, or abilities.

In the early childhood arena, the best goal is to have administrators and educators who have a greater understanding of anti-bias education as well as importance of inclusive classrooms with services to the children who are differently-abled. When the individuals who are involved in early childhood arena have a better understanding of the diversity as a theme beyond the color of the skin, it will  make a great difference for the children and families. For the most part, people still believe that diversity is about the color of the skin and the faith.

 

Dear Colleagues,

We worked hard

We learned from each other

We shared our wisdom and passion

We have the ability to make a difference one child at a time

It is our responsibility to create a better tomorrow for the children of the world

We are stronger as a group than as individuals

Let’s work together for a better tomorrow

Thank you for your kindness, wisdom, passion and encouraging words

Hope to see everyone at the next course

Wish everyone the best!!

Peace and love for all!

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art 

Diversity is not just another word

We have to keep in mind that it means a world

Specially to the people of non dominant culture

Every human being is proud of their heredity and culture

It is our responsibility to understand and respect people

for whom they are

                 Color, sex, beliefs, class, or ability should not

be the measuring stick

Respect, love, care and kindness from the bottom of

our hearts should be the base for future of the world

The more questions we ask, the better we are

with the understanding of the Diversity

Each and every individual would like to be respected and cared

It does not cost a thing to do so

So, why do not we try to do what makes everyone happier?

See the differences, learn about them, respect the diversity

        and the individuals who are different than you are

Let’s work together to make tomorrow a better day

for all the beings.

Thank you, from my heart to you!!

Diversity is all these and more to me....

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: "We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

Young children are meaning makers – perpetually learning from their environment.

• A time when you witnessed an adult reprimand or silence a child after he or she pointed out someone they saw as different. Include what the child said and what the adult did or said in response

This is a situation my friend/neighbor was faced with when her youngest daughter was only thee years old. This particular child is very vocal and never held her opinion. One day, at a high end fashion store, the child started walking towards a lady. Mom could not see the lady’s face but she thought child might have recognized the lady. Mom followed her anyways. The child walked up to the lady, looked at her for a moment and told her “You look like a clown”. The lady was speechless. So was the mom. The lady took a long/deep breath, looked at the child and had asked “why did you say that sweetie?”  The child looked at the lady and told her “too much makeup”. Mom apologized to the lady and asked the child to do the same and then told the child: “we need to have a talk”.

• What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult’s response

According to the mother, she gave her daughter a talk about the people being different and people making different choices. Mother said that she explained to the child that she should not talk to the strangers. Then mom talked to her about being respectful of others choices. Mother also told me that “I have to be aware of the fact that my child is only three years old and my talk has to be age appropriate”. By knowing the child, I am very sure that she understood that she had offended someone, and her mother is not appreciative of her choice of words.

• An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child’s understanding

For me personally, I would first appreciate the child’s ability to speak up her mind. Then have a discussion about seeing different people for who they are and respecting them for who they are. If the child is in my classroom, then it would be a classroom discussion about choice of words, respecting the diversity, and caring others. I believe that simple examples of diversity in the school environment would be helpful to get the idea across to a three year old. The picture books on the diversity topics would be a great starter point as well. In most scenarios, the children do not lie as adults do.