Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds.

I hope to learn as much as I can about the children/families in my care that come from different backgrounds.  I hope to learn as much from them as they can learn from me and by my interactions with them I hope to become more diverse in my own thinking. I hope to continue on my own personal journey of acceptance and anti-bias education to help foster these ideals and values among children and families.

 

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to the issue of diversity, equity and social justice.

My goal would be to work closely with my colleagues and the children and families in our school to lessen the stereotypes, the isms and the negative thoughts towards other cultures.  I want to educate those in the community about diversity and just how important diversity is to our development.  Whether or not people realize it, they are in some way a minority.  There will be some point in their life when they will be in the minority, and need to be educated on others around them. It is my hope that one day all children and families are treated with social justice and equity regardless of their social identities. I know that is a large hope, but if every early childhood educator cared enough to work towards this goal and we began teaching this from an early age and other educators continued through the education cycle that we would raise an accepting and tolerant society.

A brief note of thanks
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for your kind responses on my blog, as well as your kind responses to my discussion posts.  We are all very diverse, but hold the same values for children. You have all helped me progress in this class, as well as a professional.  I am learning ways to respond to children, or issues I am having in my classroom.  It is also great to learn I am not alone in my feelings, or encounters I am having with families.  So truly I say thank you. 

Dr. Parrish heart felt gratitude to you!!!