Professional Hopes and Goals

When working with children and families from diverse backgrounds I hope that I can be a welcoming face for them as they enter a new environment. I hope that can look at me as see that I am here to help and assist them in anyway possible and for them to know that regardless of their background and culture, that I understand and respect them. The one goal that I have for early childhood professionals and institutions is that we continue to respect, trust, and support every child and family that we work with. The three elements are needed to foster good relationships not only with these families but in communities as well.

I would like to take this time to thank each of my peers in this course for all your feedback this semester. I have come to learn about each of you in small personal way and I want to wish you the best in your academic future as well as your professional careers. I look forward to working with each of you again in the future.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The country of origin that my family will come from is Paraguay. Paraguay is a small country located in South America with a population of approximately 6.5 million. The language of this country is a mixture of Spanish and Guarani' which is recognized as the official language. Majority of its population is Roman Catholic followed by Protestant.

In the United States I have come to realize that we are a huge melting pot of different cultures, religions, values, and beliefs. As a professional I have to comfortable with families who may not speak the same language as I do or have the same belief system. I will become knowledgable about my new family by reading books, researching articles, as well as find resources within in my community in reference to the language. I will also do my best in finding ways for the child as well as the family being able to make a smooth transition into the American culture. I believe by becoming informed about my student's culture I can develop and positive bond with him/her and their family. Positive bonds can help break the stereotype barriers that can be hinder a child's success in education.

Reference
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pa.html

Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

As I reflected on the assignment for this week, I tried to recall a time when I witnessed out right prejudice and oppression and I could not picture a time when I have. I have watched several televsions shows and movies where this type of inequity took place but none that I can say that I personal witness from my own eyes. As I pondered on about this assignment I remembered a book that I enjoyed reading over and over when I was younger and I also was able to watch the movie that was filmed because of the book. " The Color Purple" written by Alice Walker in 1982 was a fictional novel that won the Pulitzer Prize. The story was about an African American women named Celie who grew up unloved by everyone in her world excepet for her sister Nettie. Celie was raped by her stepfather and through these sexual assaults she bore two children who were taken away from her by her stepfather. Celie was sent off to marry a man by the name of Mr___ (his real name Albert is finally known towards the end of the novel) who beats Celie as a way of controlling her. Another character of the story named Sofia is also an African American woman but she is more assertive and demands respect everywhere she goes. Sofia marries Celie's stepson (Harpo) against Mr____ wishes. Harpo feels emasculated in his marriage to Sofia because he does not have the same control over her as his father (Mr____) has over Celie. Harpo tries his father's method of control by beating Sofia and Sofia returns the blows right back to Harpo. After years of violence and 5 children later Sofia leaves her husband. Celie still longing for love has never heard from her sister Nettie because Mr____ refuses to give Celie any of the letters Nettie has written to her, Celie assumes that her sister is dead.  Mr___ reminds Celie that she is black, poor, ugly, a woman, and that she is nothing at all. Sofia comes back into town and is confronted a lady named  Miss Millie. Miss Millie is a White woman who is the wife of the county's mayor and she asked Sofia if she would work for them as their maid. Sofia dismisses the woman's offer by replying "Hell no". The mayor slaps Sofia in the face and calls her an "ungrateful nigger" which lands her in prison for 12 years. Once Sofia is released from prison she is forced to work for Miss Millie as a maid to add more insult to injury.

This novel depicts some of the most clear signs of racism, sexism, and oppression against African  Americans and women. The in era that this story describes women were seen as less than man and completely worthless, except for sexual needs. African Americans  where being called racial names such as gal, boy, and nigger to show that they were considered less than the White race. As I read the novel, I remembered feeling more enraged about how African American men treated their wives than the way that Whites treated Blacks. I felt that African American men understood how it felt to be considered as less than and could not understand why a man would treat his wife in the same manner. The only way for change in all of the events could have occurred would have been if African American men would have given their wives more respect and not beat them or treat them as sexual slaves, housekeepers, and babysitters. White Americans would have to change their way of thinking towards the African American race and begin to view them as human as well. Even though this was a fictional novel I believe it showed the truth when it comes to the history of our world.

Awareness of Microaggressions

A few weeks ago my husband experienced a form of microaggression right in front of my home. My husband was in the yard doing some landscaping ( which is a loved hobby of his) and staining our outdoor bench area when a police officer passed by. He looked up at the officer and waved his hand and went back to doing his work. The police officer came by 15 minutes later and told my husband that he was doing a really nice job and thought the work was beautiful. He then asked my husband how much does he charge for work like that because his wife would love it. My husband stated, "Oh I don't do this for a living, I just like to give the front of my home a makeover from time to time." The officer laughed and said, "Yea this is your home....right". My husband stood there and repeated that this was our home. The officer looked surprised and stated that he assumed that we were renting the home. I was insulted at the remark and walked away.

Through this experience I believe that the officer was not trying to discriminate in any way but he figured that an African American family owning a home in that particular neighborhood was surprising. The fact that he laughed at my husband insisting that we owned the home was the most hurtful. The funny thing about this whole ordeal was that the officer was African American himself and I think that he believed the stereotype of the culture that we live in. He made an assumption about our living situation just based on the neighborhood and the color of our skin.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment I spoke with my mother who is a licensed practical counselor, my co-worker Tara Frederick, and my friend April Flugence who is a realtor. I asked each of them specifically what their definition of culture and diversity was. My mother stated, “Culture and diversity a very unique topics and I believe that culture has to do with traditions of family as well as religion. It is the clothes that we wear, the food we eat, and the language we speak. Diversity is what makes us different from one another; it’s our own unique qualities.” My co-worker Tara explained, “Culture is a way of life….your way of life to be specific. It is your beliefs, morals, and your perceptions of the world. Diversity is the difference from one person to the next. It is different races, genders, and it helps to separate us once we have been categorized within a group.”  April stated, “Culture is understanding the roles of family members and family traditions. It is important to understand that what I may feel is normal in my family may be taboo in another. Diversity is what make us who we are, why we laugh, what makes us smile or upsets, and how we handle the world around us.”

After speaking with them I have learned through these conversations and my course readings that we all have the same base line understanding of culture and diversity but we each pulled out our own examples. Some of us realized that the basics of food and traditions while another realized that it has to do with our morals and beliefs. I believe that this exercise helped me develop a better understanding of the way we think as individuals when it comes to culture and diversity and no aspects were omitted in any way. We have to be accepting of differences and respect another person’s traditions, morals, beliefs and languages. My co-worker Tara is the most culturally different from me because I am African American and she is Native American, and I am married with a child on the way and she is a single woman with no children. Although we are different in these ways I felt more connected to her definitions of culture and diversity.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

The three items that I would bring with me if my family and I had to evacuate would be my family album, my grandmother’s crocheted and last I would bring the families stock pot. The photo album holds pictures of the majority of my family members both present and deceased and in the back of the album is a very detailed family history tree. This album holds information about my family that I would never be able to uncover it were lost or destroyed it also helps to teach the next generation of where they come from. My grandmother’s blanket is something that I hold near and dear to me because as a child and young adult I remember her taking naps with this blanket laid across and when she passed away in 2004 it was the only item I requested from my father to have. It’s like always having a piece of her with me. Last but not least is the family’s stock pot, my family has gathered at my grandparents’ house many Sundays after church to socialize and enjoy a Sunday meal. I remember only good times when it comes to cooking and I how my grandmother still loves to cook for us on Sundays. I would want to bring that same tradition wherever we go.

If I were told that I could only keep one item from my family I would be completely hurt and devastated. Each of these items represents what my family is all about and that is unity, history and tradition. At first I did not consider myself as a person that would hold on to items because I felt that memories was all that I needed but I realized how important certain items are to me because it gives the history of my family. Through these items I would be able to teach my children and future grandchildren about their history and the importance of family.

When I Think of Research

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

Before taking this course I will admit that I was completely intimidated when it came to research. I felt that I did not have the experience or enough knowledge to speak about research. After taking this course I realized that research is just another part of learning about our social environment. In reference to children, it helps us to be able to learn different ways to interact with them, the way they learn, what affects them, and how we as professionals can do a better job with helping them. Without such research, we would know less about children's points of view, their wants and needs and their possibilities (Mac Naughton, Rolfe & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010).

In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

My ideas have changed to be more open minded when it comes to research and less fearful. I have realized that I have learned a tremendous amount of information through this course and I have also learned that research is about putting together ideas with other professionals.

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I have learned that being organized is a key part of being successful in research. You have to take your time plan out every detail of research to make sure that there is no room for error and no room for being bias. Make sure that all sources and information are valid and up to date with current findings. The design for the research must be planned out and you must decided on what methods to you  when investigating your topic.

What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

I had some difficulty in being specific in what I wanted to focus my project on. I had problems trying to narrow my subject down to one idea to investigate. In research I learned that being to broad with an idea can lead to errors in research and conflicting data.

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

Early childhood professionals have an opportunity to change the direction of where the next generation is heading. We have to remain focus on assisting children and their families with providing the best care and advice we can give when it comes to education. By assisting the children we help the families and by assisting the families we can help the children. It is a continuing link that connects children to a positive future.

Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.