Early Years Education

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from different background I hope that children irrespective of their background or culture or experience will have access to quality Early Childhood Education and that I will be knowledgeable and willing to support young children and their families whenever the need arises. One of my most favorite quote by Dr. Seuss “A person is a person no matter how small”. I hope that I will be able to continually advocate to protect the right of young children, especially in Africa, and hope that I will have the cooperation of colleagues who will also speak up and protect this vulnerable group – young children. One goal I will like to set for the Early Childhood field. The Early Childhood field should be a place where you find professionals who are knowledgeable about issues relative the all forms of diversity and are daily working to overcome stereotypes and bias, all within the goal to positively contr...

If I were expecting a child from China, I would do the following to prepare myself and class to be culturally aware and receptive. 1.      Would read up about the country and get to know its basic languages, know where China is situated on the global map, the lifestyle of the people, Celebrations etc. I would not assume that I have the information but will make an effort to know about the country better. 2.     I would also attempt to learn a few words from their language.   Greetings and courtesy words in the language of the child would make connection with child and family easier. Welcoming the Child in his/her language in the morning or saying please and thank you in the language could make child relax faster. 3.     I would develop the expectations of my class members to better understand and accommodate the culture of the child, teaching songs about being a friend/helper, about the continents and how we all belong toge...

My husband told me a story of an incidence that he witnessed that happened at a check-in counter for a flight in Northern Nigeria. A female passenger was denied her request to sit at an emergency exit row primarily because she is a woman. This woman is not physically or mentally in capable of carrying out an exit row function should the situation arise on the flight. She is a six footer and her mental ability is not in question judging from the way in which she was marshaling her points on why she should not be denied the seat. Apparently she desired the seat because of the extra leg room on that row.  As is typical of most flights in Northern Nigeria there was an overabundance of men compared to women on the flight and the airline officer felt this exit row function is better suited for a man than a woman. T he Woman felt she has been denied equity because she is not capable according to rule other than the fact that she is a woman. I felt this woman was marginalized...