Professional Hopes and Goals-Week 8

The one hope that I hope to have when working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to make them feel welcomed into a new environment. I believe that makes all of the difference in the world when moving from one environment to another so it is my goal to make a child and their family's transition as seamless as possible. Most education systems here in the U.S. are responding to this need by implementing the Common Core Curriculum across the country where no matter where a child moves to across forty-eight of the states, they will encounter very similar learning units so that fewer gaps are encountered in their education.
The one goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is to offer more training opportunities addressing diversity issues. I believe that sometimes educators are so enthralled in the four corners of their classrooms, centers and in a way set in their ways of doing things that they become less resistant to changing their views regarding the ever changing world around them. We must become more accepting of others and put forth a "meaningful" effort to impact their lives as they enter a new environment.

To some of the most wonderful colleagues: I am so very thankful for your transparency, candidness and thoughtful comments throughout this course. My life has truly been changed and each one of you share a part of that change. I sincerely thank all of you for being a part of the growth I have experienced throughout this course. I wish all of you the very best in your continued educational journey and I hope our paths will cross again really soon.

To Dr. Tuthill, I would like to thank you for being one of the most amazing professors I have encountered in my educational career. You have allowed me to share some of my innermost feelings which has allowed some of my shortcomings to be recognized and faced head-on and you did it so eloquently. Your kind feedback helped me to grow so much and I can't thank you enough for being a part of that growth. Teaching Diversity is certainly a special gift that you have and I am forever grateful for you. Best wishes to you.

Week 7: Welcoming Families From Around the World

I am a Social Service Worker and the family I have been assigned is from the country of Nigeria. In preparation to serve this family I will do the following five things:
1. Research the country of Nigeria to gain a better understanding of their surface culture so that once I meet with them I can begin to build a relationship with them. Parents are more responsive when there is a common thread on which they can build trust and relationships.
2. Living conditions is very important in the field of social work. So, I must research so that I can better understand their family structure and the way they are accustomed to living in their country so that I help them to compare things within their country and how they relate to things in the United States.
3. Learning words in their native language will also help to put my clients at ease with me and because I have always been interested in learning different languages, I could also ask them to help me with learning different words in their language.
4. Home visit will also help to build a good relationship with my family. This is a small thing that means a lot to families. Taking a few minutes to visit a family within their environment shows that you care and that, in itself, is the foundation for building relationships.
5. Making the family feel comfortable in a new environment is very helpful in easing their transition to a new country. By this I mean sharing information about the local area through magazines, brochures and even maps will help them navigate their new environment.
I hope the five things I have shared will benefit my Nigerian family by helping them gain new insight on their new home as well as gaining a new friend in me. I believe everyone desires to feel a sense of belonging especially when new to a place. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about their deep culture as well as teaching them about mine so I believe those common threads will benefit both myself and my clients.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

On of the most profound books pertaining to Biases, Prejudice and Oppression I have read was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I can remember reading this book and then going to see the movie was a sense of anger and frustration of how African Americans were treated.

The treatment of African Americans in this book was very degrading. Being referred to as diseased, unintelligent, animal-like beings who were trained to obey the orders of White individuals to cook their food, clean their homes and even raise their children while being paid such a low income they could hardly afford food from day to day for their own families.

There was one particular incident in the book that I felt was really humiliating which was when Ms. Hilly (President of a Woman's Society/Bridge Club)wanted Ms. Skeeter (Editor of the newspaper) to write an article for their newspaper called the "Sanitation Plan" discussing why it was important for all homes to have separate bathrooms for the Help because they felt that Black people were diseased and dirty. Ms. Abilene (Ms. Leefolt's "Help")was present was serving the ladies while this conversation was taking place. The look on her face in the movie matched the way I felt in the pit of my stomach as I read the book. What provokes my feelings are the thoughts that as far back as slavery and even in the minds of some today; Black people are supposed to be so ignorant, dirty and unworthy of being treated equitable however, Black people were trusted to do the cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children of their White Masters. What an oxymoron!

The unwarranted acts of racism, oppression, classism, and intentional microagressions towards the African American race in this book was a tragedy. However, the way the "Help" banned together to collaborate on the book that was published by Ms. Skeeter who went totally against her own race and class of peers was encouraging and I enjoyed watching how the tables were turned when some of their deepest and darkest secrets were revealed because of the people who they deemed "invisible" witnessed more than they thought and was willing to share it all in the end.

Although, society has progressed in many ways, the book The Help is a reminder of why we should all people should be treated equitable. I thought this book was a great example of the racism, classism, sexism, microaggressive behaviors as well as oppression that once existed in our society and although we have made strides over the years, there is still work to be done.

This book is a GREAT read! I recommend reading the book before watching the movie but either way, your life and perspective will certainly be changed all while your are thoroughly entertained.