I choose to look closer at West and Central Africa. This is one part of the world that has always interested me and I have always tried to research and learn more about this area when I am given the opportunity. I also that their educational system is much different than ours and this always intrigues me.
One of the biggest challenges that these children face is malnutrition, and 2 out of every 10 children don't even reach their 5th birthday. If they do make it past their 5th birthday they usually do not go to school because of poverty and traditional beliefs. Often times these children are are victims of violence and sexual behaviors.
I can completely understand why it is hard for these children to learn and develop. If they are malnourished they are not going to be able to focus or learn anything that is being taught to them. They are going to be more concerned with their next meal. If they come down with disease that happens often in this area of the world, learning is the least of their concern. If they are victims they are going to be more worried about their survival then about what they are going to learn next. The priority of these children are completely different than the children that we have in our classrooms in the United States.
After reflecting on this situation it always reminds me of the quote, "Someone always has it worse." I reflect on the things that I worry about in my personal life and the things that my students worry about and some of it is so irrelevant. I have children that worry when their next meal will be, but they also know that they will get food. The children in West and Central Africa do not know when their next meal will come.
Resources:
UNICEF (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
The Sexualization of Early Childhood
I will be the first to agree that children are exposed to sexuality at a very young age. I am raising a child in Las Vegas where every other billboard has pictures of half naked women. There are driving billboards with call girl phone numbers and there are many different strip clubs and adult stores. I will be the first to say that I live outside of the main view points of these things but there are times we do have to go near or by these places. Thankfully my son is not at the age where he understands or asks questions but eventually he will be.
As for my children at work, we just had hat day a few weeks back. One of my students came to school in a Hooters hat. When I asked him about the hat he said that he does there to eat with his family. My personal view is that they do have great food but you don't always have to let your young children eat there or wear their hat, this parent shouldn't have allowed their child to wear this hat to school.
As a school we celebrate student reading achievements. This past week a girl received a reward in front of the school. She had a beautiful long red dress that was from her Spanish culture. When she went up to receive her reward one of the kindergarten children yells, "She is sexy!" I looked at the teacher and she looked at me and we questioned if we really just heard that, until he said it again. This is something that he has heard at home or on TV, and was able to use in proper context. The teacher just quietly told him that it wasn't appropriate and he looked devastated because he had no idea.
Children need to be just that, children. They need to be able to learn and grow without having to experience things that their young minds can't handle, such as sexual content. There is no reason for children to have think or see things that might warp their thinking. They need to be exposed to fun, imagination and learning not something that they might become afraid of or might be inappropriate.
While I think that children are being exposed at a very young age, I also think that parents can do a better job of supervising what their children are watching, buying and playing. As a busy parent myself I know that this is not always an easy task but that is why it is important to talk with your children about things that are appropriate vs. inappropriate.
As for my children at work, we just had hat day a few weeks back. One of my students came to school in a Hooters hat. When I asked him about the hat he said that he does there to eat with his family. My personal view is that they do have great food but you don't always have to let your young children eat there or wear their hat, this parent shouldn't have allowed their child to wear this hat to school.
As a school we celebrate student reading achievements. This past week a girl received a reward in front of the school. She had a beautiful long red dress that was from her Spanish culture. When she went up to receive her reward one of the kindergarten children yells, "She is sexy!" I looked at the teacher and she looked at me and we questioned if we really just heard that, until he said it again. This is something that he has heard at home or on TV, and was able to use in proper context. The teacher just quietly told him that it wasn't appropriate and he looked devastated because he had no idea.
Children need to be just that, children. They need to be able to learn and grow without having to experience things that their young minds can't handle, such as sexual content. There is no reason for children to have think or see things that might warp their thinking. They need to be exposed to fun, imagination and learning not something that they might become afraid of or might be inappropriate.
While I think that children are being exposed at a very young age, I also think that parents can do a better job of supervising what their children are watching, buying and playing. As a busy parent myself I know that this is not always an easy task but that is why it is important to talk with your children about things that are appropriate vs. inappropriate.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice
Two of the -isms that I experienced was sexism and ageism. During my 2nd year of teaching I had a student who's father was much older than I was and had a hard time respecting my as his sons teacher. He would often talk down to me and would be rude. When his son got in trouble and had a special day taken away he was furious and said it was because I couldn't handle his child, only because I was a young female. I often felt as though I had to be very careful with want I said to him and how I treated his son. I was always grateful when the student's mother or brother picked up instead of the father. I never wanted it to effect my relationship with their son, but ultimately it did.
I think that when you experiences -isms between families that have students in your classroom there is going to be a level of uncomfortableness. Even though you try your best to make the situation as comfortable as possible it is always going to be a tough one. When I was in the situation and even when I have currently been in these situations again, I handle the situation with as much respect and professionalism as I know how.
I think that when you experiences -isms between families that have students in your classroom there is going to be a level of uncomfortableness. Even though you try your best to make the situation as comfortable as possible it is always going to be a tough one. When I was in the situation and even when I have currently been in these situations again, I handle the situation with as much respect and professionalism as I know how.
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