Reflections as an Educator

Reflections as an Educator

Although my Master’s study educational journey with Walden is nearly ending, my professional educational journey of teaching young children and perhaps adults is just starting, and in some instances continuing. All educators are committed to the hopes and dreams for their student’s educational succeed. After a deep study in many areas of preparation in order that I may be able to give my best towards the educational success of young children and to render support for their parents, my level of confidence and readiness is higher than I thought it would be. Because I have a strong passion for educating children, I will always be open to learn more of the best techniques that will aid them for success in their educational journey. Children need to know that they are accepted for who they are and where they come from, and that their family’s heritage is respected.

 It is my quest to always be present and ready to render support to children and their parents, because parent involvement is priceless. As parents stay involved and encourage, children will stay involved and encouraged.

Finally, to each of my colleagues, we have made it this far with just one more class to go. I am extremely proud of us, we did it! We cared enough to go forth and learn at a higher level what it’ll take to be the best educators we can be for the children. This has been quite a journey. We have read and reread passages, chapters, articles, and books, and wrote and rewrote papers and combed through websites about our field of study. We have communicated with each other through our discussions and blog boards, and supported each other with agreements and disagreements, but all the while learning which techniques may work better than others for the success of the children and their families that we will service. My hope is that our world can learn to be more accepting of all people, but I am so pleased to know that each of you are out there, and with the type of education we have received, we’re sure to make some dents in the face of change for the betterment of young children and their families. I can fill my note to you up with quotes from our study, but each of you are aware of what the study says, so I’ll just say, remember the words of Julie Olsen Edwards, “the children are waiting for you” (Laureate, 2011).

Take good care of yourselves colleagues, I’ll miss each of you, and will say a prayer for you. I bid you farewell and tons of success for ALL that you set forward to do in your professional and personal life. Thank you ALL for your comments, encouragements, thoughts, and ideas as we all aided each other by bringing our bright minds together. Again, take care of yourselves, and guard your minds, stay strong, and guard your hearts, stay true to who you are as we stand up for the rights of children and be their voice.

Your Colleague and friend

Darlene Thomas

References

  Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Your 

     Commitment to anti-bias work. Baltimore, MD: Author.

         

Highlighting Copenhagen Denmark

Impact On Early Emotional Development

Highlighting Copenhagen Denmark

I chose to take a look at Denmark, because it isn’t most talked about and I would like to learn what the children are experiencing, and the dynamics of their experiences and the thoughts of how those experiences could be affecting the children’s healthy development.

When looking at Denmark, the site seems to highlight mostly about the Children Climate Forum, and all the surrounding cities or countries, seem to be a focus on an increase of global awareness, and youth day events making children’s voices heard. Children living in these cities and surrounding countries seem to experience malnutrition, lack of medical health, and poor school and living conditions. There are links to stories of children in Kenya who are housed at schools a distance away from their families. Some of the children at the school cannot afford the housing section of stay at the school. So they are all housed together in one area with all their beds lined around with nets to keep out the mosquitoes. The children take a long walk which takes hours to get home, so they do not go home too often. The children and their families have strong beliefs that with an education they can help their families who are living poorly. In addition, the families lack proper health care, and must rely on the local doctor who usually give them a small amount of medicine for lack of supply, because the nearest hospital is a four-hour journey away on foot.   

Supporters of UNICEF Climate Change for Children, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and UNICEF Climate Ambassador Mohamed Axam Maumoon from Maldives meet during the United Nations Climate Change Conference; also, Queen Victoria and the Royal family of England. In addition, The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge & Crown Prince & Crown Princess of Denmark visit UNICEF’S supply Cent re, and Copenhagen to help 320,000 children severely malnourished that are at imminent risk of death, are just a few mentioned on the cite among many more supporters.  

Based on what I learned from taking a closer look at the daily functions of the children’s lives, I would be concerned of the emotional well-being and a healthy child development of the children because with-out proper nutrition a child’s brain could not function well. I would also be concerned about their healthy mental development along with a sense of connection, and belonging as they are absent from their families, because all children as well as adults need a sense of belonging and closeness with their families and established connections with others.

My personal and professional thoughts are that each time I learn of stories that depicts a life of what we see as a struggle for young children, it causes me to gain a whole new perspective on my life and this profession. I seem to get even stronger and more eager for working with children and my quest to work for change in our country that starts in my community first, because each thing I do to and with children, as well as what I say to them and around them matters. The types of community, and how that child see his/her community can have a positive, or negative effect on a developing child. Although the children from countries with this type of reality are experiencing what we see as hardship, can also be strength and character development for the children with this type of experiences. For example, while I often hear children in my community complain about school and attending school, and for these children, they are willing to walk several miles to school and back home each day, and some are willing to live away from home in order to attend school. They grow up with the idea that it will take education to aid them out of poverty, and they are eager to help their families out of poverty. I don’t want to see any child live these experiences, but I would like to see the children in my country have a better respect for education.         

The Sexualization of Young Children

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

Sexualization of young children can be viewed in two ways.

Because children are exploring and learning about one another, they can experience Sexualization in the form of noticing the difference between each other and attempting to talk about it, and by learning that there are toys that are geared towards girls and towards boys. In earlier years’ parents and teachers encouraged gender bias towards toys by insisting that boys only play with the toys that are designed for males; such as, trucks, cars, boats, fishing equipment, all sports balls etc. Equally, girls would only be allowed to play with toys designed for girls; such as, dolls and doll houses, tea cups and dishes, dresses and high heal shoes and several domestic occupations. But today most teachers are open towards children focusing on play, all play, and with all toys as both genders play together. However, most parents today usually practice and prefer their child to play with toys designed for their gender.

In my opinion, I believe that all children should explore playing with all toys. They should be allowed to learn of the traditional roles of boys and girls, and should not be rehearsed or trained to desire one type of toy to another just because they are a boy, or a girl. 

In addition, the media and our society seem to still operate by the classic traditions of toys for boys, and girls with a few electronical toys, or computers that are geared towards both groups.

Educators understand the benefits for allowing young children to experience all forms of play. Therefore, Teachers can help children have a full experience of play of all toys as they aid them, and guide them towards a healthy development.     

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Evaluating Impact on professional Practice 

The impact of my personal experiences dealing with isms could have the potential of becoming a deciding factor of how I treat and receive my student and their families if I allow it to.

As an educator, I have a responsibility of accepting and receiving children and their families of all races, cultures, heritages, and beliefs without discrimination, but what happens to the teachers who are discriminated against for who they are, and/or what they look like? What about us and our feelings? Although we’re adults who’s educated about the dangers and destruct ions of discrimination and all the isms; such as, racism, class-ism, sexism, and stereo typing, we get just as hurt when someone practices any of these behaviors on us. We must stay respectful and kind, open and receiving of all our students and their families, but it often seems like we’re exempt from receiving the same in return.

Ethnic American’s, and Hispanic race of people seems to be more misunderstood, and stereo typed than any other race of people. It has been my experience and understanding that the two races of people are accepting, and understanding of one another. Also, from my experiences Hispanics tend to be watchful, alert, and concerned for their acceptance from others, and if they are being stereo typed, but what if their practicing the very thing they are watchful of onto another group of people?

Understand that I am not displaying discrimination towards, or against my Hispanic brother and sisters, but sometimes we do things that cause others pain, by practicing actions that are hurtful and stereo typed. I am entertaining this subject because of my sadly disturbing incident the weekend of Mother’s day.

An example of being careful of what we are doing and are saying to others. The week before Mother’s day, I stopped in a hair salon because I was in need of the service and this shop was near my temporary location at the time. This solon was owned and operated by a Hispanic woman, I asked her did she do ethnic hair and how much would she charge me to fix my hair. She answered yes that she can fix my hair, and she will charge me $60 for the job, but she could not take me now. I answered I am not expecting you to take me now I am only inquiring so I can make the plans. I called her that next week which was Mother’s day weekend when I had my appointment. While she worked with my hair I again asked her was she okay with doing my hair, and she once again said that she was that it’s just hair as any other hair. Well, she worked with my hair and did a good job but also did not know enough to put an anti-freeze on my hair so of course it didn’t last through the day. When it came to paying her she calculated and said to me my charge was $120.00 I said no you told me that it was $60.00 for a basic service. She said to me that because my hair is thick and long, and she had to work with it and that it took time away from the other customers. I thought, am I not a customer too? And, didn’t she see my hair when I came into her shop initially, so why didn’t she tell me that from the start? Furthermore, she was not the only stylist there. I told her that she told me $60.00 and that I was prepared to pay that, but paid her $70.00 after a couple of rounds of no I did not and yes you did. She told me that she will take it, but next time that is what she will charge me. I can’t begin to explain how hurt, out of place, and embarrassed I felt. I was discriminated against and was made to feel bad for who I am and that having my type of hair is bad, therefore I have to pay more. My initial thoughts were that I would give her, my Hispanic sister the business, but after I thought I was welcomed it turned out that I was not. As stated above this group of people are watchful for mistreatment and discriminatory treatment towards them from others.

I have had many Hispanic students among other nationalities of students, and I have never caused them or their families any hurt feelings from disrespect for who they are, or treated them in a stereo typical way, so it’s really hurtful when those who you accept, respect, and welcome mistreat you. Again, I ask what if we kind, open hearted, and full accepting educators are mistreated, discriminated against, and stereo typed? Who helps us feel better and accepted when we are negatively judged, stereo typed, and discriminated?  My only plea is the question, are we really going to keep this type of disturbing behavior up? Neither race of people is any better than the others, so the practice of superiority must stop.

 The children are watching and are taking their ques and learning by example from the adults in their lives, so what are they being taught? Mainly, what type of world are we preparing them for?