References:
Sparks, L., & Edwards, J.
(2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the
Education of Young Children.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
"We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"
I remember as a child seeing a man at the grocery store with a metal prosthetic arm. At the time I saw a boy pointing and acting scared about the man's arm. According to Derman-Sparks & Edwards, "[we need to] use these moments: Pay attention, ask questions, listen carefully, and then respond as appropriate to the child and the situation" (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Instead of the boy's mother acting upon this situation and educating her child about his actions, the mother told the boy to "Shh" and to not stare. By the boys mom telling the boy to be quiet and to turn his focus away from the man this might communicate that this man is someone that should be shunned or is viewed as an outsider. This stigma could be something that might be carried on with the boy into adulthood, and is something that the mom should not have done. The mom should have told the boy why it is not okay to stare, ask the boy why he is acting differently, and perhaps ask the man with the prosthetics questions about his arm to avoid any negative thoughts from the boy. Situations like these are teachable moments, and is something that should be given a more in depth answer than to simply be quiet (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
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Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI think your point about engaging the person who the child is noticing is a great point. They often have a comment or smile that can put things into perspective for the child and help them know they are human and not to be feared. I have a friend who's a little person, and we've talked on this subject because children often approach him. He says he's never offended by a child, only adults who don't treat him or the child with dignity and respect. Thought that was a great point to share.
Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI think your point about engaging the person who the child is noticing is a great point. They often have a comment or smile that can put things into perspective for the child and help them know they are human and not to be feared. I have a friend who's a little person, and we've talked on this subject because children often approach him. He says he's never offended by a child, only adults who don't treat him or the child with dignity and respect. Thought that was a great point to share.
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for sharing your post. I think in every instant when a child sees someone that appears to be different from what they are use to seeing they usually respond by staring at that individual of making a loud outburst. And often times we may respond to the child by saying be quiet- I think this is done out of fear of the person hearing what the child has said. I to am guilty of this as well but as a result of taking this class I am learning how to handle that better.
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