Start Seeing and Discussing Diversity

                                                                     Start Seeing Diversity: 

                                                                   "Shhh, We don't say that"

                                                          https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/shhh.html

       I have been told and remember times when I was young and I would say or giggle at something I saw or witnessed another person either doing, wearing, or look like and my parents would tell me "shhh, shhh" and scurry us away from that person. My dad still tells me today, that there were times he had to hush me and get me away from another person when I was very young because he was fearful that they would hear and become offended, thus taking it out on him. Now that I am an adult and teach young children there are times when I find myself hushing my students when we are out in public and they see someone who is different than other people or cultures that they have encountered in the past. 

    A time I can remember hushing some of my students was when we were outside taking our daily walk and on this day we walked past a homeless person who had a strong aroma coming from him. Some of my students started making faces and say eww stinky and holding their noses while walking past him. At this time I did not know what to do and I tried to hurry us away from this person and held my finger to my mouth at my students, shook my head, and, said: "all done." At the time I believed this to be the best way to not draw a lot of attention to the situation at hand and move past the person who I was afraid would become offended and come after myself, my co-teacher, and possibly even the children. I am now aware that I have my own biases towards homeless people and have a fear of them that I may also be projecting onto my students because of the way I hurry past them and try not to look or make eye contact.

    Something I could have done differently is later on in the classroom address what had happened and explain to my student's homeless culture and how some people may end up where they are now and the reason behind the smell. I could also go on to say how it is ok to notice and take observations however teasing is never nice and no one wants to be made fun of. 

    We cannot turn a blind eye to our differences and students' observations of people who are different than them. In the required media file this week discussing race and ethnicity we were taught the importance of not being color blind instead of accepting, embracing, and conversating about our differences. If we turn a blind eye and silence children then it is giving the message that these differences are bad and the best thing to do is to ignore them and stay clear of people who are different than you (Laureate Education n.d) This is not the message we want to portray to the up incoming generation. This message does not support inclusion nor tolerance and this will further divide the society of humankind. Similar to the self-reflection I am doing throughout this course and recognizing my own biases and stereotypes, it is our job as educators, caregivers, and leaders of young minds to help them ask questions and recognize everyone's differences. It is our differences that make us unique and lead to new discoveries, inventions, and relationships with one another.

                                                                                References

                Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Start seeing diversity: Physical ability and characteristics [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

                Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Start seeing diversity: Race/ethnicity [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu