One hope I have for working with
children and families from diverse backgrounds is that all children
will be seen and heard for who they are, where they come from, their
family, their heritage, their language and their beliefs. That no
one child will go unnoticed or slip through the cracks. That all
children will feel appreciated, empowered, and loved. That all
children will be embraced for their differences and be taught to
embrace others for their differences.
One goal that I have for the early
childhood field is that desegregation will be a thing of the past,
that all schools and all children will have the same chance to
succeed. Wealthy schools continue to receive higher funds each year,
while disadvantaged schools receive budget cuts each year. I would
like to see all children have the same advantages as children who
attend schools in wealthy districts.
I want to thank my colleagues for their
kind words, words of encouragement, and insight into the complex
world of anti-bias education.
Let No Child Slip Through the Cracks... I like that... it means we need to be mindful of our biases, not only our prejudice, but our temperaments, curriculum biases, teaching and learning style biases, etc. It's a tough task, but the children deserve it.
ReplyDeleteI often ask teachers to imagine when they are "in the zone"... when they are the best teachers they can be...I ask them to imagine what part of the classroom they are in... what they are doing... and what children are there around them.
Then I ask them to imagine the children that are not there... those are the children that don't get the best you...those are the children that fall through the cracks... maybe not huge, gaping cracks... and maybe they don't fall, they just trip... but it adds up... and one day they stop wanting to go to school... it might be years down the road... but it will have started with us...
Let us strive to never be that crack...
Alicia,
ReplyDeleteAs a child advocate and early childhood educator,I agree that we must not allow NO CHILD fall through the cracks.I think that is a beautiful hope you have and your goal to make desegregation a thing of the past is one we also
need to strive for. I believe by introducing an anti-bias curriculum at the early childhood level ,we are well on our way. Best of luck as you continue on your academic journey.
We have all learned some new about children and biases. That is the reason we are doing what we are, so that children we educate and care for will have a better chance at success. You encourage me. Have a great New Year.
ReplyDeleteLove this Alicia, can only imagine what an impact you have on so many little lives here in Kalamazoo!! :) Miss you!
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