Professional Hopes and Goals

As I conclude this class of Diversity and Culture and Social Equity in Early Childhood Education, I would like to express my thanks to Dr. Johnna Darragh Ernst for all her guidance and support and for asking just the right questions to make me critically think!  I would also like to thank all my colleagues for their comments and probing questions and especially for all the great ideas that were shared throughout this course.  It has been a wonderful learning experience for me.

When I think of working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds, my one hope is that I am worthy of giving them all the understanding, respect and welcome that they deserve and that I make a positive difference in their lives.  I want them to feel included and equal in my classroom and for them to walk away with a smile each and everyday because they are an important part of my life.

Lastly, the goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field is to INCREASE the training that educators receive in the areas of culture, diversity, social justice and equity so that teacher are prepared to welcome and respect these families they come in contact with because it is crucial to the development and the self-worth of the children they will teach.  Not only do new upcoming teachers need more training, but those working in the field for years need professional development in these areas.  It should be mandated because it is that important!

Again, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!  GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE VENTURES....


Jeannette Coloma

Welcoming Families from aroud the World

Imagining that I was in my current job as a preschool teacher and that I was going to have the opportunity to welcome and teach a child of a family from Ethiopia, which I know nothing about, I would do the following things to be culturally responsive to them:

1)  Learn all I could about the cultural beliefs of Ethiopian families, including their traditions, customs, etc.

2)  Try to discover commonalities or experiences that we share or that would be shared by this child and the rest of the class.

3)  Develop and use vocabulary of greetings and common key phrases in their language so they can feel welcome.

4)  Meet with the family with an interpreter so I can find out all I could about the family and the child.

5)  Create lessons that would introduce this new child's heritage and culture to the classroom

I think these preparations would help the child and his/her family feel like I was prepared for their arrival and eager to include him/her into my class.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudic and Oppression

I was stumped when trying to recall a time that I felt discriminated against for being a Hispanic woman, but then it came to me....being a WOMAN has me dealing with bias all the time.  I work in an urban setting where I have to park my car in a very "male loitering" block every day.  I deal with the issue every morning and again every afternoon.  CONSTANT OPPRESSION!!  It's the same group of men, whistling and giving me sexual looks and comments and it's very irritating.  At first, I remember feeling embarrassed and ashamed and I would even question what I was wearing to try to not get their attention, but I quickly realized that it didn't matter and it wasn't me, it was them.  At this point, I almost don't hear them anymore but I always walk quickly.  I wait in my car sometimes to see if they go into a store or something and I never, EVER make eye contact.  In order for this to change into an opportunity for greater equity, they would have to really see how I feel which I don't think is ever going to happen.  They don't have any respect for women and it's absolutely disgusting.  Maybe if I turned around and started crying one day and told them how awful they make me feel in the morning, it would spark something......but no thanks, I won't be engaging in any type of conversation because ultimately I don't think it would get me anywhere.....I'm just going to continue avoiding, even though I know it's the wrong thing to do.