Blog Week 6
A time when you witnessed an
adult (or yourself) reprimand or silence a child after he or she pointed out
someone they saw as different (e.g., "That lady talks funny," "
That man only has one leg!" "Why is that man so pretty!").
Include what the child said and what the adult did or said in response. (Note: If you cannot think of a
specific time ask a friend or family member.)
As an early childhood
educator apart of our job description is teaching children how to be polite to
others and the appropriate ways to ask questions. There are quite a few
incidents that came to mind while doing this assignment, but the one I chose to
elaborate on is the one that will forever stay with me.
There was a little girl name
Katelyn that was confined to a wheel chair because of epilepsy, but this child
was extremely bright. Katelyn came to my classroom every morning until 9:30
a.m. when her Pre-Kindergarten teacher arrived. Each morning after breakfast, I
turned on music and she would move around in her wheel chair and laugh until
the song went off. Sherman; a child in my pre-school class told Katelyn, “to be
still because you cannot dance in a wheel chair.” After Katelyn teacher arrived and went to her
classroom, I pulled Sherman to the side and spoke with him about his remark to
Katelyn. He said to me that “she can’t dance in a wheel chair because my
brother told me that people in wheel chairs can’t do anything.” I explained to
Sherman that his brother was wrong to tell him that. As I explained to Sherman
that people in wheel chairs may not walk does not mean they can’t do other
things. I stated that Katelyn likes to dance around in her chair because she
has ears to hear the music and eyes to see the other children dancing and
moving around as well. I also told Sherman because Katelyn cannot walk does not
mean she should not be happy. He looked at me and said that he was sorry. I
told him to make sure he tells her that tomorrow with a big smile and hug.
What messages might have been communicated
to this child by the adult's response
The message that I hoped to
communicate to the child is helping him to understand that children with
disabilities are just as normal as him, and to never be mean or say hurtful
things to people who he consider different from himself. Children learn by
example and I want to be a positive example to the children I come in contact
with throughout my career journey. Children will never comprehend varies
abilities unless they are thought to do so. All children need accurate
information about what people with particular disabilities can and cannot do
(Derman-Sparks & Olsen, (pg.126, 2010). In chapter 10 on page 126, Derman
Sparks & Olsen illustrates to the reader ways to help children deal with
varies abilities.
An example of how an anti-bias
educator might have responded to support the child's (or classroom's )
understanding
Explaining to children about
varies abilities takes patience and dedication; for this is a life long
journey. In a situation where children may not understand another’s child’s
disability that he/she is no different from you, and that we all should be
treated with respect, and the way that you want to be treated. As Derman-Sparks
and Olsen explains “teaching Anti-bias to children is that teachers and other
staff must use intentional strategies to create quality inclusive classrooms.”
Resource
Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards,
J. (2010). Anti-bias education
for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
