Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

As I approached this week, I wanted the answers I received to be random so I put as my status on Facebook that I needed definitions of culture and definitions of diversity. The answers I got were as different as those that gave them and yet each in its own way defined culture and diversity. What I realized through this assignment is that defining culture and diversity is not something people think a lot about. Those that answered for me were afraid there was a right or wrong answer, I explained in this particular assignment there were no right answers.

One answer I received was from my male cousin six years older than me. He defined culture as the way you were raised, the morals you have, and family stability. With this definition he brought up an interesting point. In some of the resources we have had so far, they have discussed how the family unit affects how one is perceived, but if as he put it the family is stable then why would it matter? Diversity he defined as the distinction of the way you were brought up. His definitions really made me think about how simple, yet difficult, it is to define culture and diversity.

Another answer I received was from a former colleague who I used to teach with in NC. She is roughly within a year or two of being the same age as I am. Her definition of culture is the way people around the world live from day to day and the celebrations they have. Her definition of diversity is things that make different cultures the same & different. Diversity is also the appreciation of different cultures.

How almost similar to the definitions we have heard through the panelists are these?

Finally my aunt who is in her 50s defined culture and diversity for me. Culture is the roots you came from. Example: Italian, Southern (Appalacian), African American, Irish, etc. Diversity is how adaptable you can be to situations and surroundings, etc. Example: Going from earning $50,000/yr to $30,000/yr. Going from living in a house to an apartment. Going from a large vehicle to a small vehicle. Diversity can also be various ways of doing things in different cultures. Example: In some cultures the man rules. What he says goes. Various ways people choose to worship, etc.

While we have learned in this course, or been reminded if we already knew, that culture is more than just the roots you came from, it’s my aunt’s definition. On the other hand, I like how she defined diversity as being adaptable.

All in all I think this week was productive, I gained insight into how those around me define culture and diversity. Without this assignment I do not know if I would have ever asked others in my life how they defined culture and diversity.

My family culture

As I thought about this assignment, my family culture, and the items I hold dear I actually spoke to my mom to ask what she thought. After listening to her suggestions, the three items I would take with me would be a lump of coal, a box of cornbread mix, and a country music cd. All of these items represent the southern lifestyle. My grandfather worked in the coal mines in West Virginia before moving his family to New Jersey. Not only does it represent where my family came from, but it could also be a source of heat for cooking or warmth. Cornbread, or any type of bread, was a staple on the dinner table no matter what dinner was growing up (in my grandparents’ house, not always in mine). Finally, country music is the genre I enjoy listening to, represents life in the south, and each song often tells a story or speaks to the heart of an important matter. If I got there and could only keep one item I would be additionally crushed but would either choose the coal for its many uses or the cornbread mix to insure I would have something to eat.

   I would not feel comfortable about moving to an unfamiliar territory, but just in the pretend sense I have a small inkling of how a child moving with his family to an unfamiliar area would feel. This exercise made me take a personal look at myself and my family and how much the southern lifestyle plays a role in the person I am. It also made me realize how often we as a society judge those around us based solely on what we see from the outside. Especially as educators teaching children about culture and diversity, but for all of us as a whole to improve the society in which we live, we must look beyond the cover of the book and read the story.

When I think of Research ...

As another course in my program on public policy and advocacy comes to a close I look back on the last eight weeks. What I have found is how unsure and hesitant I was about this course in the beginning. Research has not, in the past, been a topic or a task to complete that I felt strongly about or that I felt I could do on my own as a professional. However, after this course I feel that if I wanted to or needed to I could perform a research study now. Each week of this course the elements and steps of a research study were discussed and reviewed. Aong the way, understanding the different types of research studies that could be conducted gave me uncertainity at first but once broken down into steps, completed in the chart format as given, it gave me a clearer picture. So if I follow the steps and be sure to include all the necessary elements I could complete a research study that could impact the future of early childhood. Through this latest course and therefore gaining the knowledge of performing a research study, significant impact and changes could be made in early childhood if we all take the individual research study simulations we designed, put them in practice, and share the results.

International Early Childhood Issues

As we continue to learn about early childhood through this research class, as we have in previous courses I am always interested to learn if other states or even countries have the same or similar issues in relation to early childhood. So to see if this were true I used my long time interest in Australia as the source of comparison for early childhood issues.

Therefore, it was enlightening to learn that when I viewed the Early Childhood website in Australia, http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/, that the topics I found were the same. Current resources include sleeping, health and obesity, school readiness, climate change, and belonging. In the archives I found that quality standards, an early learning framework, literacy, and health are all issues related to early childhood affecting Australia just as the same issues affect early childhood here in the US.

What I also found interesting was the online catalog with the availability to purchase resources for children, families, and professionals. As with other early childhood sites here in the US there was also the option to join the mailing list or become a member. Connections between the US and Australia exist within the realm of early childhood if in no other aspects.

Research That Benefits

Wow. When I saw the topic for this week, I could not help but think how wonderful the research created in option two could achieve so much and help so many.

If I could research any topic it would be researching equitable access for all children to attend preschool programs. With this research I could find the issues affecting parents lack of ability or knowledge to send their children to preschool programs through various means. The following ideas would apply to private preschool programs or those children unable to attend public preschool programs due to small class sizes. Either coordinating pick up for children either through a transportation service or car pool or on the other hand I could create a program where children receive attention from a preschool teacher in the home setting where they are the most comfortable. This could happen one on one or with a few children from the local area in the neighborhood. This way both children of parents who wished for them to attend preschool and those who would prefer their children stay home and 'be little' for as long as possible could receive preschool learning services and thus equalize the readiness of students for Kindergarten.

 If there was money allocated and available to pay enough preschool teachers so that all preschool aged children could attend the public school, that would serve one purpose of preschool learning and the other purpose of better preparing students for Kindergarten. However, with budgets and space available within a public school, having all children attend preschool in a public setting or having the finances to pay teachers may not be feasible.

I would love to see the day where regardless of outside factors all children receive a preschool education and start their educational careers 'ahead' instead of behind for lack of preschool attendance.

Personal Research Journey

As I thought about a topic for this research simulation, I reflected back on EDUC 6162. The topic in that course that struck me the most was equity in early childhood. How can children not attend a preschool program based on where they live or the socioeconomic status of the family? How can a teacher with the same qualifications teaching in a private setting not make the same as a teacher in a public school setting? What are the differences and why do the differences cause such inequalities?

This topic is important to me because it could affect the profession from an educators’ standpoint and how prepared a child is for Kindergarten can affect the rest of a child’s education. As I research the topic, I find that there are more articles about studies outside of the US than within the US. Additionally, there is very little I have found on the issue in relation to the teachers, so as my desire was to research the equity issue for teacher salary I may simply have to just focus on the children.

 Whichever becomes my final result, I hope that through this research simulation I can find more information to use in an effort to eliminate the inequities found.

Final Blog for EDUC 6162

As I reflect back on the last eight (seven as I write this) weeks of this course, I first want to say to all of my colleagues in this course Thank you. Thank you for responding and sharing with me both in blogging and in discussions. I hope that each of you has learned something from me as I have taken away something from each of you. As we each continue on our individual journeys in case we don't meet again in another course, I hope that we all reach our goals and achieve our dreams making a difference in the lives of the children we meet along the way.

The first thing that was really enlightening for me in this course was how some countries that I previously had thought (for example, China) were very well educated, have their struggles just as we do here in America. Quality programs are a big deal both here in America and abroad as the strive to find and keep well educated, well prepared staff is different based on location of job. If a certified teacher can become employed in a school district for a salaried position, that same certified teacher is going to be less likely to take an hourly position at a private preschool.

In addition to quality, I also reflected as I explored the various websites, on how access to early childhood education in some of the underdeveloped countries may not be as frequent as in better developed countries due to cost or barriers in the understanding of the importance of early childhood. I cannot imagine, because I have not lived it, how difficult it is in another country to educate children, even when the desire is in place. This is an even more revealing revelation for me in how fortunate we have it here in America. Yes, we have our own issues to face in early childhood but we do have programs in place and are striving to improve upon them.

Along with the quality of programs, I was also pleased through the websites to learn that with the gain in awareness for early childhood that the United States is working with other countries to develop, implement, and improve the education for early childhood. I know from the news that on a political standpoint we have such things as the United Nations where we work together, but to know that our collaborative efforts extend into the education of the children is fantastic.

What I learned about myself is that the different nationalities moving into this country are requiring a little more from the educators. I need to most definitely pursue the learning of Spanish for the area in which I live and in doing so I hope to learn more to make all children of all nationalities that I may encounter or that may enter my classroom comfortable enough, even if there is a language barrier, to learn successfully.