This week’s topic took me back to about three years ago when I was teaching a Pre-K class. One afternoon when the students were being dismissed one little boy said to another girl,” you are so black. You look like a black crayon.” Even though both students were African Americans the little girl’s complexion was darker than his because he is light skinned. I stood there in shock when I heard this comment. My coworker who was next to me did not even think twice before she intervened. She called the two students to the side and spoke with them. I could not hear what she was saying to them, but after a while I saw the boy who made the comment hugging the girl. After they had left I asked my coworker how she dealt with the situation. She informed me that she told the boy that the girl is very beautiful. Even though her complexion was darker than his she is pretty, and that we all come in different colors, shapes and sizes. She highlighted the fact that he was short and the girl was tall, but nothing was wrong with that because they are both great students. In telling them that people come in all different shades, she included herself when doing the comparison. She reminded the boy that our theme for the month was kindness, and she was sure that he was not being kind because he hurt his friend’s feelings by what he said to her. He apologized to her and gave her a hug.
In speaking with the children the coworker was using anti-bias education. One of the messages which might have been communicated to the child is that she is respected and appreciated for who she is; as such she should cherish, and show appreciation and respect for her identity. Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards (2010) state that if children have a healthy sense of self-respect it would help them to know and like who they are. The child would also learn that although her skin color is different from that of someone else it does not make her inferior or less of a person; and it does not prevent her from being beautiful. She would receive the message that each of us is different and that makes each of us unique. It is alright to be different and we should celebrate our differences and not fear them. Since it is acceptable to be different we should be proud of who we are. Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards (2010) also posit that anti-bias education would help children to develop “a fuller, truer understanding of themselves and the world, and strengthen their sense of themselves as being capable and empowered” (p. 17). This would help them to ensure that fairness and justice prevail.
According to Pelo (2008) early childhood educators should use children’s bias remarks as teachable moments. This should be done because children may not be aware of the meaning of the bias comments which they make; and if teachers do not immediately follow up the comments with questions, discussions and explanations, these comments “can become the basis for more developed prejudice” (p. 44). In an effort to support the children’s understanding of racial/ethnic or any other differences, Pelo (f2008) suggests that anti-bias educators can use persona dolls and have follow up lessons on the subject. Have the dolls speak about their family, how they feel when persons make remarks about them for being different– how they look, speak or act; and how they feel when others tease or exclude them from activities because they are different. This would lead to discussion of the topic, and allow teachers to correct any misconceptions which the children have. Pelo (2008) went on to state that when educators use this approach they will be helping children to “recognize stereotypes and incorrect information, and appreciate the harm they do” (p. 46). She also suggested the use of a “Stereotype or Fact” game. This game will help children to explore the difference between stereotype and a fact, and will help them to think critically about any misinformation which they have absorbed.
References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J.O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC
Pelo, A. (Ed.). (2008). Rethinking early childhood education. Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools.
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