The
biggest hope that I have when I think about working with children and families
who come from diverse backgrounds is that I apply what I have learned in this
class. I strive to make each child feel comfortable and valued in my program.
For this to continue I will need to implement some of the concepts I have learned
while using some of the wonderful ideas I accumulated from my peers. As a
launching point I will research every child’s culture to the full extent I can
and implement some of that culture into each classroom.
I
have one goal that I would like to see to fruition within the school, programs,
and childcare in my community. That goal is that holiday celebrations be
excluded from the classrooms. I am constantly broken hearted to see children
who do not normally celebrate these holidays be forced to conform or be left
out while a celebration is taking place. My neighbor came to me a week ago and
asked what she could do about Christmas being celebrated in her sons school.
Her family is Jewish and they do not celebrate Christmas. I asked her if she
talked to the teacher and she had. The teacher said they do not discuss
religion just the “fun” aspects of Christmas. She went on to tell me that every
day sometime twice a day her son is sent to the office while the class makes Christmas
trees or Santa ornaments. I was heart broken for her and her son. I told her to
take her complaint to the school board. I wish there was more I could do and I
know the situation will not be fixed this season but hopefully next year will
be different.
I
would like to take this time to thank all my colleagues for their continued
support. Their ability to constantly take my learning to a deeper level is something
I am very appreciative of. It has been a pleasure to learn a long side each of
you. Thank You!
3 comments:
Sharene,
I know that the holidays exclude children and things need to be put in place. The school should learn what it is that your neighbor celebrates and how and let the child make that while the others are doing trees or what ever. Children should not be excluded nor should they be forced to join in a celebration that they do not believe in.
A privildged visit to another class or something other than setting in the office (which would be a punishment to me).
Luci
I really struggle with removing all holidays from the activities of a program. I want my kids to be able to make Christmas ornaments or do holiday themed activities at school-it's fun! But I think that ignoring other holidays such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa is unfair as well. Why not add all celebrations in as a way to embrace diversity rather than ignore it.
There is no easy fix here, and parents can make their own choices, but I certainly don't think that my children should have part of their culture ignored to please one family.
Just my two cents.
Lea
I do not agree with you that holidays should be excluded but I do think that all holidays should be taught to all children. This would allow children to learn about other cultures and traditions. Teachers could get creative in how they teach different holidays and traditions and only spending one day on each holiday and moving on.
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