This week was an interesting week for me as I had the opportunity to
facilitate professional development training for a group of childcare providers
on the topic of “diversity”. As we
neared the end of the training teachers began to share experiences of times
that they heard racial comments. One
teacher began to share a comment that she and another teacher had witnessed.
She stated that while standing at the bus stop, they heard a little “White
girl” comment on a few Black children playing.
Her comments stated: “the Black kids are always so loud and silly.” At
that moment, the two teachers looked at each other and then they looked at her
mother. Her mother seemed embarrassed
and stated, “I don’t know where she got that from.” While listening to the
teachers’ responses, they all agreed that the little girl had to hear it from
an adult in her environment.
For me, normally I would have been offended but I did not take it
personal at all. I realize that this
issue is too serious and it is something that we all have to over come. Instead, I used it as an invitation to share
what we have been studying this week. I
began to talk about the three types of microaggressions and that the type of
aggression that was displayed was that of the microinsults. I shared with them how similar the comment
was to a scenario that was a part of this week’s discussion question. Many of
the teachers stated that this topic is very difficult and hard to approach but
agreed that it is something that should be discussed often. It was a great learning experience and the
teachers were very responsive to the information.
Hi
ReplyDeleteSo often we all hear this type of conversation for young children that truly do not understand what is truly mean to and if these word are hurtful or not. Children are the channel of information that is pick up and repeated just because they hear it. But it is not just a child hearing this kind of talk that make them repeat the remark but it is the family member not correcting the language make this microaggressions. I had the opportunity to watch a film this week end on Hallmark Network if you have the time watch this film it is relate to the subject. And let me know if you like is that file is “Water is Wide” by Jeff Hephner, Alfred Woodard. It is a Hallmark Movies.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katherine. I heard comments and phrases from children often in my school. There were comments and remarks made by african american, children or their parents, toward the increasing hispanic population in my building. I noticed many times it was children repeating what their parents said and many times not understanding what they were even saying. Its examples such as these that really highlight the work we as professionals must do to create and foster classroom communities were diversity is celebrated and differences are looked as strengths and are valued.