Perspectives On Diversity and Cultural

In my studies this week, my focus is on valuing culture beyond surface level. This study is core for everyone who works with children because
1. Not knowing the families we work with makes us work in a vacuum, this means: No genuine impact.
2. We must realize that people are different and take the risk to discuss our differences.
3. Culture seem is a huge part of supporting children's socio emotional development
                                                             -----Derman- Sparks & Olsen Edwards 2012

To deepen my grasp on the perspective of diversity and culture, I have listened to three people from around the world on their definition and personal understanding of what Diversity and Culture means to them. Two of them are professionals in the field and one of them is just my friend and relation.

         Stella an educational coach in Port Harcourt says:
Culture, it is the attitude and behavior, norms, values, way of seeing and doing things that are characteristic of any particular social group, organization or even a school.

Diversity on the other hand means in one word: VARIETY. Diversity suggests common ancestry with varying presentations be it of social groups, organizations or nationalities.

     Tubo, my UK based friend and relation says:
 Culture can be described as the way things are done by a group. Culture defines a group of people and is usually passed down from generations to generations.
Diversity is the uniqueness or differences of individuals or groups and the respect of these differences. The differences could be race, ethnicity, language etc.


     Jeannie, as early childhood professional based in Hawaii says:

Culture is shared knowledge. I liken culture to a dance, passed down from one generation to the next.  A slow and steady dance telling a story, expressing, interpreting, the history, values, and beliefs of communities of people as they move together sometimes and apart sometimes. Culture encompasses all aspects of people's lives within the communities they live, deeper than the food they eat, or the holidays they celebrate. 

Diversity is uniqueness, ways to stand out, those things that are unlike the rest.  Diversity in classrooms include a variety of learning tools and rich language opportunities, books in various languages, songs in various languages.  Tools in various sizes and shapes and for children at all developmental ages and stages of development.  Diversity is being able to meet the needs of all children and families.  Being diverse is being open to meed the needs of ALL PEOPLE

My Reflection on Culture:

All three spell out the shared nature of culture, that it is consists of practices that define a people. Only Jeannie was elaborate to include examples as she dramatically talks about their stories (I assume their histories), their way of expressions, and their beliefs, values. She especially says it is deeper than the food they eat, or the holidays they celebrate.   

  

I do not see any aspect of culture omitted because, deep culture has been mentioned, also stella looked at various forma of social group such as families, school or organization.

 My Reflection on Diversity:

I love their inputs on diversity. Stella mentioned the common ancestry decent in variants. Tubo's contribution mentioned the uniqueness of the differences and the respect accorded these differences.  Jeannie brings us into what diversity in the classroom is as that is her life, it is often not easy to dissociate from what you are. Jeannie brings in the classroom perspective of diversity, says they reflect in the learning tools, rich language opportunities- in books, in the songs we sing. Goes even to children's developmental differences and how we meet these varied needs.

The perspectives of others on culture and diversity has broadened my one view to see that there is no denying that the way we do what we do as humans emanates from those values that guide our group life. I especially love Jeannie's concept of "shared knowledge".  The fact that it is passed from generation onto generations has been an awoken knowledge in me. that was not emphasized in this week,s reading, perhaps, it is assumed.

They all add to what I knew on diversity as I reflected in the preceding paragraph.
In addition, I will like to add that these tips are tools to having a successful impact on children and families.

 Refrence

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).