1.
Your response to those who believe that
early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or
lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families.
I can remember as a child growing up in a community that
was highly populated by one culture of people. That group of people was Black
people. I hardly ever seen, let alone interacted with children and families
from other “diverse” backgrounds. With the increasing amount of children and
families who are residing in this country, it is imperative that school
settings be prepared to teach and educate children and families about the many
different types of diverse families. Being an advocate for diverse cultures of
families, I support the inclusions of all children and their families. It is so
beneficial that children are supported for who they are and where they are
from. Children need to see themselves and their families reflected in their
learning environments. This will give children a sense of belonging and allow
them to feel more comfortable in their learning environments. Helping children
and their families develop self-esteem and a sense of belonging in their new
school is important for success (Kirmani, 2007). With the use of materials such
as books, puzzles, family photos, posters, and multicultural dolls, children
and parents are better able to understand families that are very much different
from their own. It is essential that teachers help children see that gender,
race, culture, and sexual orientation can be expressed in multiple ways and
that some of these ways have more power than others (Hyland, 2010). With these
differences, there is room for many wonderful learning experiences for children
and families.
2.
How would you respond to a parent/family
member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or
self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or
interacting with their child.
My initial response would probably be in disbelief of
what the parent/family member is communicating. As an educator it would be my
responsibility to educate and share with the parent about the harmful effects
of discrimination and bias against others. This does not only affect the
educator but their child as well. Children may receive a harmful message
regarding gays and lesbians if parents are not careful of their communications
regarding such issues. While families are in a critical place in shaping
children’s values on such matters, classroom practices communicate and
reinforce strong, subtle, and respected social messages about what is and is
not valued (Hyland, 2010). I would explain
to the parent that all educators are highly credentialed educators and
regardless of their sexual orientation, they are assigned to support and
educate their child as well as the parents. I would them assure the parent that
no teacher who is openly or secretly gay or lesbian will be enforcing their
sexuality on any child. Their sole responsibility is to educate their child. As
the educator, I would share literature regarding equity-based pedagogies. I believe
that the parent just may not be aware of equity in the classroom setting. This
applies to the staff as well as children. In early childhood programs and in preschool
and primary classrooms, it is critical for teachers to address injustice and
develop equity-based pedagogies, because children form ideas about families and
their own sense of identity within the large world during these early years
(Boutte 2008).
References
Hyland,
N. E. (2010). Social justice in early childhood classrooms what the research
tells us. YC Young Children, 65(1), 82-90. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/197637742?accountid=14872
