Modeling behaviors

Modeling behaviors

By

Anita L. Coles

 

I am a very social person and in the course of my socializing I have met so many people that have inspired me along the way. However, if I had to choose one person it would be a tossup between my best friend Janet and my aunt Juanita.  

The reason why Janet and I became such very good friends (we are more like sister now) was because she dared to tell me to my face about something that she felt  I needed to know that others were saying behind my back. She was not rude but she was sincere, she was not judgmental but she knew I could do better and called me on it.

My first reaction was anger; how dare her, she did not know me well enough to dare be that honest… then I stop for a minute and realized the fact that she did not know me that well and yet she was willing to put her neck on the line to help me. I immediately went from feeling anger, to feeling very, blessed I realized that she was a good friend I just needed to see that. I soon came to realize that not only was Janet a loyal friend she was also humorous, very giving and very slow to judge. So when she does you know that she has researched and researched and pondered before taking action is taken.

The other person I actually have tried to model myself after is my aunt Juanita. She is 90 years of age. She is currently studying Hebrew which correlates with her business. She has her own ministry /home teaching studio for young children.  Her staff members needs to be able to speak, write, and teach at least two languages. She loves children and has tons of patience when it comes to children  

What I like most of all about my aunt is ever since I have known my aunt she has always indulged herself in higher education, and although she has many degrees she is very much down to earth . In my opinion my aunt has always been and still is a very wise but humble woman I can talk with my aunt about anything at any time.

 She has always taken the time to listen without any signs of a judging me or trying to give me advice. My aunt is my hero!!

Professional Hopes and Goals

Professional Hopes and Goals

By

Anita L. Coles

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to teach the children with compassion and eagerness using techniques in which the children are accustom; Not only having the desire to teach but to also learn from the families; Modeling self -respect and self-worth.; and last but certainly not least, building positive parent/teacher relationships.

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice to design a nationwide adopted model on techniques of working with families of diverse backgrounds. This particular model would provide techniques concerning methods on welcoming and respecting diverse families minus making the families feel as if they are on display because of their differences. By using this particular model, we as teachers/educators; students; parents of student; communities; political figures, and individuals throughout the world shall learn and understand the importance of equality and justice is for all mankind and not just for a selective few (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p. 56).

In other words, I would like one day in the very near future, to help design a plan that will recognize and acknowledge our differences without the general feelings of comfortableness and awkwardness while doing so.

                    

 

Thank-you All

 

I would like to take this time out to thank each and every one of my colleagues. I may not have gotten around to responding to everyone’s’ discussion posts and or blogs but I did read them and each one did inspire me…thank-you all very much, I hope that I was able to have done the same.

I wish you all the best in your continuing journey of teaching and learning -–again thank-you!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias

    Education for young children and ourselves: National

     Association for the Education of Young Children.

      Washington DC.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Welcoming Families From Around the World

By

Anita L. Coles

A family from Poland plans to enroll their child Artur in our child care learning facility. Until this year, the family has never traveled outside of Europe. Therefore, I believe that making this family feel welcome and most of all wanted, is the childcare staff‘s top priority.  To try to help Artur feel welcome and comfortable while in our facilities; and until I can meet with Artur’s family for specifics, I will take the initiative and provide the following:

1.    The facility has a journal/book that we have the parents fill out when they child first begin the center. This particular book is called “Tell us about (The child’s name).” The book has specific questions  such as; what name does your child like to be called ; in trying to help your child free comfortable especially during the “getting use to us period,” whom would  your child feel the most comfortable with male or female; what are some of your child’s favorite foods…

2.  Provide the family with the Childcare’s Parent Handbook in the language that the family will understand.

3.  Prior to the first meeting, have the family record and   bring with them any questions; concerns, or request that they may have. Review with the family each question; concern; and or request. Be prepared to either have answers for their questions; provide insights to their concerns; information regarding the center’s policies and procedures.

 

4.  Collect as provide important contact information.

5.  Make sure that the family is aware of as well as understand that the childcare center has an “open door policy.”

 

I believe that these preparations will benefit both the family and our staff. By meeting with the family and having the family tells us about their interest and cultural preferences can help eliminate taking anything for granted. We do not want to assume what interest families coming from another country are.

By asking the family what their interest are including cultural interest, in my opinion, shows respect; compassion, and a sense of welcome. I believe that it is equally important for the families to become aware of the child care center’s policies and procedures. The center is a place of business and the family expects excellent care services (as should be), therefore both the family and the service providers shall have a clear understanding of all services that will be provided.  

 

Reference

Kingsley, P. (2011). New Europe: the life of a Polish family.

      The Guardian.  

 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

By

Anita L. Coles

I grew up in a state where the majority of the people were prejudice. However, unless one knew what to look for regarding prejudice one might miss the little subtle signs, for example, many years ago, a situation took place in high school during gym class (now call PE).

During some of our gym exercises the girls would need to hold hands. (There were only two Blacks in our gym class, me and another girl) This particular Caucasian girl (back in the day the girl and boy gym classes where separate) would hold out her pinky finger to me and she would tell me “no I am not holding your hand; give me your ‘baby’ finger,” and that was the extent of our holding hands. Sad part was that the teachers would allow (Taylor, 2011) . 

As I stated before, I have encountered many of such as above mentioned; there are some that I have forgotten; I would need to think really hard to remember, and then there are some that are hard to forget. The next one was when I was working in a factory I was still quite young and had not experience adult individuals being prejudice toward me. A few days after starting work, an older Caucasian male told me that he did not want to work with me because I was “Colored.”  My response to this  particular gentleman was that that was his problem not mine, and as long as he did not hit me or use any derogatory  words  towards me…everything would be fine (Less than six months were became very good friends).  (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p. 24).

        When my family and I moved to New Mexico I was sure life would be different as far as experiencing prejudice and so forth.  I thought that all people of color experience the same things. Well I was wrong, I learned that prejudices comes in many forms and is the product many of oppressed situations. I was doing my monthly grocery shopping. The individual who was my cashier was Caucasian male; he totaled my account to be a little over $200.00. I than realized that I had left my “card” in my car, I informed the cashier that I would need to run to my car to retrieve my card.

        The casher told me that he would wait until I returned. I ran to my car found my card; grabbed my card and run back to the cashier. When I went to hand the cashier my card, I noticed that my groceries dollar amount had changed considerably; it went from over $200.00, to  almost half the amount; just as I was about to ask him why the amount changed he noticed my card and quickly hit the cash register keys to change back to the $200.00.

        Then it hit me, he thought (or better yet, assumed) that I meant that I was going to get a “Food Stamp Card.” (EBT card)  Once he realized his mistake he turned redder than a beet, he sheepishly apologized, and tried really hard to quickly bag my groceries. I did mention to him that he may not want to prejudge the next individual before first gathering all facts there were other people waiting to check out behind me, each smiled and nodded their heads in agreement (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p. 26).

        To be honest, I felt a little sorry for the young man because he truly displayed prejudgment. I am sure had I not been a person of color he would have expected the card to have been “Visa,”   MasterCard,” or something similar.  As an educator, I really saw this as an opportunity to help a young man understand how prejudice can work, and if he wanted to, he could use the situation as an opportunity as well to learn a valuable lesson (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p. 21).

        We all have our own bias; prejudices; and maybe even oppress a person or two; I know I have my and am trying to understand and work my way through them.  Dealing with the girl in my gym class, the man at the factory, and the young cashier reminds me that we are not perfect and before I can work on someone’s bias; prejudices; and creating the act of oppression I first need to understand and work on my own (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p. 23).  

 

 

 

 

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010) Anti-bias education for y

        young children. The National Association for the Education of

         Young Children; Library of Congress Number 2009938138

        ISBN: 978-1-928896-67-8 NAEYC item# 254.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

By Anita L. Coles

Early in my years I  was in the college of civil engineer. When I first started the course I did quite well I had a GPA of 3.8. However, when I started my research class I begun to do poorly. In the beginning I thought it was all my fault that I was doing to poorly. At the time I was taking care of my sick dad, raising two small children alone, and holding down a full time job. So I thought too much on my plate

I met with the professor of my research class to ask him what could I do to help get my GPA back up. The professor informed me that he did not think that I could do anything because some people from certain racial background have a harder time understanding certain academics than other races. He went on to say that I should not worry and if I receive a “D” as my final grade (we were not even midway with this course) and a “D” is a passing grade this microaggression was in the form of Microassult and microinsult (Sue 2011) . On that note, I wrote a letter to the college Dean of Electrical Engineering I informed the Dean that I believe that his department housed a few teachers that were prejudices

The college/Dean’s replied to by stating  that the school researched and found that other people of color were attending the College, and had no complains and therefore believed the college had not violated any laws.  I dropped out of college for two years. Letter I went back to the same school different program and graduated with a 3.6 GPA, and cumulatively a 4.0.  

While I was attending class, I ran into my old EE (Electrical Engineer) advisor. He ask me why I dropped out of the EE department I told him if I tell you, you would not believe me, than he said to me “was it because some of the teachers were prejudice? My mouth flew open; than he told me his wife attended the same college, and was treated the say way. He also said that one of the teachers made a racist remark about his wife (at the time the teacher who made the racist remark was  not aware this women was my advisor’s wife (my advisor was White his wife Black).  This situation took place some twenty odd years ago.

However, a few days ago my daughter and I were having lunch at a restaurant were my daughter also work part-time as a server. One of their regular customers (a middle age Hispanic man) saw her sitting and jokingly asks her why she is not working. She told him that she was working a later shift because she had finals early that morning. He asks her what she was studying … she told him Electrical Engineering; he replied “Oh you must be attending the  Branch,” she said to him, “although there is nothing at all wrong with attending the branch,  I am not and have not attended the branch.” The hidden message is the only way you could obtain an EE degree  is to attend a lesser demanding college/University (Sue, 2011) (Gorki, 2008, p. 2). Then he asks her if she thought that she might have a hard time getting hired anywhere; hidden message, you are going to have a hard time getting a job because you are women and a Black women at that (Sue, 2011).  Her replied to him was that she has already accepted a job offer in Texas and should begin working right after graduation. The man just looked sheepish and replied “oh.”  In my opinion times have not changed much. There is still so much work to be done.  These two examples represented two types of prejudices, one against a person of color (possible gender as well); and the other color and gender.

In order to became more aware of and to work on eliminating actions such a microaggression we as teachers/educators, and parents need to encourage our young children to do what my daughter is doing: seek and continue to seek higher education; if in order to pursue a dream and or a goal dare to move  outside their comfort zone; Lastly but certainly not least, respectfully defend their cultural inheritances(Seifert, 2007, p.7)

 

                              References

Gorski, P. (2008). The myth of the "culture of poverty." Educational

           leadership, 65(7), 32--36. Academic Search Complete database.

Laureate Education Inc. (2011). (Derald Wing Sue, PhD).

           Microaggressions in everyday life.

Seifert, T. (2007). Understanding Christian privilege: Managing the

           tensions of spiritual plurality. About Campus, 12(2), 10—17

          Academic Search Complete database.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

                         

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 Anita L. Coles

      The three individuals in which I ask to provide me with their definitions of “culture and “diversity” had very interesting views and or definitions. The three individuals were a husband and wife of different racial backgrounds, and women who is 90 years young, although married, the husband and wife each provided their own viewpoints and or definitions; the wife is in her late 30’s and the husband early’ 40’s.

What I found to be very interesting was that all three individual’s definition and viewpoints were closely related; however, the way each one expressed their viewpoints concerning culture and diversity was amazingly different. The wife provides her definition and viewpoints almost poetically.  I had the husband and wife email me (I requested this because I wanted to keep their viewpoints separate even if they both had the same or similar ideas.) I would like to share both of their viewpoints:

Wife:  Culture to me is about traditions, valves, food...I guess basically just how

 we are  raised. I think smaller Part of race…religion has a larger part in  

             how we were raised though I do think the history of race does affect

 the culture though[sic]. Diversity to me makes me think of how we lived on

             from around the world. We were all different races, religions and nationalities, that

             is what made it so amazing. Different languages, food, transitions, ways

 kids are raised. And for the most part all in a respectful way[sic]. Mostly wanting to

             learn about each others[sic]cultures[sic] (2013)

            

        Husband: “Culture=the way a person is brought up, the

Way they dress the foods they eat and so on.  

Diversity=the differences between cultures...the way a

Group looks the way they act and so on” (2013)

 

I interviewed my aunt by way of telephone; my aunt expressed her viewpoints on how it was when she was a young child. Her culture consisted of a “pretty normal day like anybody else’s except for Sundays. Sundays everyone had to attend church, first staring with Sunday school, morning worship, go home eat dinner take a nap and go to evening services.  That was a standard [family culture/ritual] every Sunday.

We would always go to the eldest home after church to eat dinner. No one could play any games, watch television, read a comic book... if [it] did not have to do with God and or church you did not do it on a Sunday period. The way we dressed was no pant ever; long dresses and or skirts and always a hat to cover the head, a head that was not covered was[being] disrespect to God and  mankind.” (2013).  

I think if I were to be in agreement between all there definitions and or viewpoints I would say that there is a place in all there viewpoints and definitions that I would or could feel comfortable with. However, I do think that Derman-Sparks and  Olsen-Edwards(2010) summed it all up for me “ a person’s cultural group is related strongly to his or her ethnicity, which reflects the place of origin and cultural background of the person’s ancestors ---whether parents, grandparents, or relatives who lived hundreds of years ago”(Derman-Sparks, & Olsen -Edwards, 2010, p. 56).

 

 

Reference

                Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010).  Anti-bias education  for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of young children. Washington D. C.

My Family Culture

What I would like to bring with me to my journey of my new country would be my grandfather’s bible that he used during his years of a ministry; a portrait of my great-grandmother Elizabeth dressed from head to toe in her Indian attire; lastly but certainly not least, my photograph album that house photographs of my immediate family members; other kinfolks; close friends; special places and events, and past and present family pets (Harris, 2008, p. 10).

If I could only keep one thing it would have to be my grandfather’s bible. The main reason for keeping the bible would be because both my grandfather and my grandmother recorded important information concerning our origins, special events such as marriages; births; baptisms, and deaths.

The bible provides very important information concerning  my grandparents;  parents; children ; grandchildren; past and present kinfolks, and myself.  I would explain to others the bible provides insight and closeness to whom I believe is my creator and savior. I would explain to others that I believe the contents of the bible provides me with daily guidance for a long and fruitful life.

I would also explain that the bible houses important documentation by family members concerning important and special events as well as very important information concerning family origin. I would explain the importance of my holding on to the bible, how the bible shall bring me daily comfort, as well as keeping my family origins alive.

The insight that I have is that although it is important for me to have visual keepsakes (items), it is more important for me to keep our memories alive by documentation and or story telling for these things are not easily destroyed or left behind, “for each family is unique…” (Garris-Christian, 2006, p. 9).   

 

Reference

Garris- Christian, L. (2006). Understanding families:

         applying family systems: Theory to early

        childhood practice. 61(1) ;1-9.  YC Young Children.

        ProQuest Central

Harris, S. R., (2008).  What is family diversity?  

        Objective and interpretive approaches: Journal of

       Family Issues. 28(1407). “originally published

       online 21 May 2008.”

       DOI: 10.1177/0192513X08318841. “The online version

       of this article can be found at:

      http://jfi.sagepub.com/content/29/11/1407.”