Last night's discussion about teaching diversity in the classroom left some question as to how it applies to the early childhool classroom. We discussed the responsiblity of the teacher to address student identity. How can the teacher cultivate learning about culture? Is it important to student success? The other aspect of this was the teacher's obligation to remain neutral. The second issue we discussed is the concept of truth. I do believe that it is valuable for the early childhood teacher to have a perspective on these issues before entering the classroom. It will change how we teach and the success of our students.
Our masters program has an entire class centered around home/school/ and community. Every five year old enters kindergarten from homes with a variety of different backgrounds. As early childhood teachers we can not effectively teach our children without an awareness of the homes, and research shows that parental involvement is a key toward student success. As a result, early childhood teachers must be prepared to include the study of diversity. Our children need to feel that the school classrooom is a safe place. Activities such as the "all about me" bulletin boards where students share their unique family cultural backgrounds is a good place to start. A sample of the multicultural community is often right before us in the classroom. The teacher must not pass judgement on these homes. I would try to remain neutral unless a student put down another's home. The American respect for the individual is something that would be expected.
The other aspect we discussed in depth was the definition of truth. The Modernist believe that there is a truth. Men are rational, reasonable human beings with more similarities than differences. The Postmodern view is that cultures are fundamentally different. Truth is therefore relative and diverse. As an early childhood teacher, I believe my major concern is to encourage the child to enjoy the learning and exploration for truth that begins at this age and last a lifetime. It was good for me to explore these perspectives in order to understand myself as a teacher. I am a modernist. I believe that human beings basically share the same physical, emotional and cognitive needs. There are differences, but there are more similarities. The horrors of the last century are exceptions that must be studied and understood. These atrocities should not change a whole mode of negative, futile thinking. I choose to believe that society would be better served to try to understand what made the craziness of the world wars cause man to be so unreasonable, against his nature. As a result I believe that there is truth, we just have to find it. The journey is great! With this perspective I hope to instill in my students an enthusiasm for life and learning that will prepare them for educational and life's challenges.
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