Professional Hopes and Goals (EDUC 6164)

One hope I have when I think about working with children and families from diverse backgrounds is that I can create an environment that values each child for who they are. I hope that I can show understanding and compassion as well as help the children to accept themselves and others. I hope I can teach children that differences are not bad things.

One goal that I have is to have more open discussion with colleagues and parents about issues of diversity and social justice. Discussion is vital in understanding and being open to other viewpoints is vital to constructive discussion.

I want to thank my colleagues in this class. Your posts and comments have made me think and re-evaluate ideas that I've had. Your support has allowed me to reflect and grow. 

Welcoming Families from Around the World (EDUC 6164)

The country that I chose for my new family is Brazil. I have had and currently have a family from there but still only have a basic idea about the country.

To prepare I would do the following things.

1. Learn to say hello, goodbye and thank you in Brazilian Portuguese.
2. Read about the different areas of Brazil and find out where my family is from.
3. Find out some of the cultural traditions that are practised in that area.
4. Read about family life and school life in Brazil.
5. Find other children in the school who speak that same language so that I can introduce them to each other.

By doing this research I hope to be able to welcome this family more fully into my class. I'm hoping to help make the transition easier because I have information about what differences they might face. I'm also hoping to make the family and especially the child in my class feel safe and comfortable. Knowing what school life was like in Brazil I can help ease the new child into new routines.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression (EDUC 6164)

      As I have mentioned before I live in the Netherlands but I am originally from Canada. When I first moved here, I needed to get my teaching credentials certified by the Dutch authorities. This was a pain to do and took some time. I had to get my degree stamped first by my university in Calgary to certify it's validity. They sent it to me in the Netherlands. I then had to send it back to Ottawa to get it stamped by the Dutch embassy in Canada. When this was done, my degree was certified and I was able to hold the position of teacher.

      I have a colleague who is from St. Maarten's which is part of the Dutch Antilles. She, unlike me, has held a Dutch passport since birth. Her education was in Dutch and followed a Dutch system. She also had to get her teaching degree certified by the Dutch authorities. Although her program was almost identical to mine, hers was denied. The only reason that I can see for this is that most people from the Dutch Antilles are black. The result of this denial is that she holds the position of teaching assistant even though she has the responsibilities of a teacher. She has her own class and is expected to take on the same tasks that I am. Because she has a teaching assistant position she is paid significantly less. She has almost as much experience as I do and yet she gets half the salary.

    This situation started about 7 years ago when the school district where we work started checking certifications. It has yet to be resolved. I still feel angry at the unfairness of it all. The only way she can rectify this situation is to redo her teacher training, something that is almost impossible while working a full time job. She is a single mother and can't take time off to go to school. She shouldn't have to either as she has already done all the training required. I also feel helpless to change the situation. She has accepted it but I can't seem to let go of my feelings of unfairness.

   In order to bring greater equity to this situation I think the process of certifying degrees should be changed. Rather than looking at the degree itself, they should look at the courses in the program. They should compare the actual program completed to the program that is offered here. They should also take into account the era that the degree was completed as requirements change. The location of the university should not be known to the committee that certifies the degrees.