This week we were asked to share our thoughts with our colleagues on at least two of the questions posted.
1.)Share some of the ways you noticed that homophobia and heterosexism permeate the world of young children including books, movies, toys, stores, culture of early childhood centers, and schools.
As I look around, I can see that toys and movies focus on heterosexism today. Nearly every little girl has a Barbie and Ken. Most girls even begin to fantasize about meeting a real Ken one day. The summer movie hit “Toy Story Three” included this Barbie and Ken scenario in their script recently. Today children also look in their classrooms and see posters of two parents including one male and one female, so children begin to assume that this is what is right (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). I have to personally set aside my opinions towards homophobia and expose children to all types of families because what they see through mass media is not what they may be getting around them in reality. The classic picture of a nuclear family is quickly fading, and it is being replaced with a blended, single, or homosexual families.
2.)How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child.
I decided to answer this question because I one day hope to be a Principal, so this is a situation I will without a doubt encounter. I would first start off by telling this parent that we need to step back and examine the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that my teacher is very qualified to teach thus why she was hired here. I may not agree with her lifestyle choices, but her heart has not changed and her passion and experience in teaching still remain. I need to bring to the parent’s attention that it is not the teacher she has a problem with, but it is her own personal bias she needs to work on. It is ok to not agree with her lifestyle choices, but she needs to learn to accept that we are all different. I would go one step further to say that this teacher’s homosexuality does not interfere with the children’s education, and I would gladly connect this unhappy parent with former happy parents to tell her how pleased they were with having her. I would also offer to have this parent back in my office again to really sit down and dig deeper to find out why this situation bothers her as well as offer resources to help her work through her personal bias. If we want our children to thrive in this diverse world, then we first need to expose them to it first, and we may have to help some adults unlearn their biases as well (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
Reference:
Derman-Sparks, L., Edwards, J. (2010). Anti bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington D.C.: NAEYC.
Stacey,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you answered the question about families not wanting a homosexual teaching their children. These teachers are certified and there for the passion to educate students and nothing more. Their personal life is just that and it is no one else's business. I had a teacher who was a lesbian and she was an amazing teacher. She was also my basketball coach. She came to work done her job and went home. When she was a school is concentrated on our education and she kept her personal life to herself. People need to step back and look that someone else's sexual preference is not going to rub off on their child and they need to educate themselves more about this.
You really hit the nail on the head when you stated we will need to help some adults unlearn biases views as well. Some parents make judgments based off of inaccurate and biases views. I really like your idea of having past parents share their experiences with the teacher in question. Often times information to alleviate fears is all that is needed and when it comes from a trusted source all the better.
ReplyDeleteHello Stacey,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that times are changing and we have more and more families that have a diverse structure, but despite this children are still bombarded it with the typical stereotypes a what a family looks like. It is crucial that we expose children to a variety of family structures, were they can see that families of two dads, or moms, biracial couples and so on. So when they do actually see it, it doesn’t seem as something that is wrong or not normal.
I also agree with the fact that we also need to educate our parents in the importance of accepting others despite the fact that they might have different sexual tendencies. A lesbian or gay teacher or other professional is not going to be less competent or respectful than one that is not. We should all have the ability to decide what is best for us, and what makes us happy even if it is not what others consider the norm.
I appreciate your perspective on treating any teacher as a professional and not focusing on their personal life. I, however, would be the parent that would not have my child in a classroom with a homosexual teacher. I will teach children that we all have one mom and one dad, whether they live together or not.
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