Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Three Recommendations to Address a Lack of Equity for Black and Latinx Children in Early Education

    Posted 12-21-2019 03:38 PM
    "Equity in education is a journey, but it's also a commitment we owe to our nation's children and families. As Head Start has experienced, the journey is difficult but rewarding."

    "In the 2017–2018 program year, Black/African-American children represented 30 percent of children enrolled in Head Start. Also, 37 percent of children were of Hispanic or Latinx origin. An additional 122,880 children identified as biracial, multiracial or another race.
    #equityinECE
    ​"

    https://medium.com/@NatlHeadStart/three-recommendations-to-address-a-lack-of-equity-for-black-and-latinx-children-in-early-education-8374a452e0db

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    Jorge Saenz De Viteri
    http://jorgesaenzdeviteri.com
    Pomona NY
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  • 2.  RE: Three Recommendations to Address a Lack of Equity for Black and Latinx Children in Early Education

    Posted 12-22-2019 09:54 AM
    The equity issue is more than just about enrollment and the quality of the programs, although these are of critical importance. It goes deeper than this. A bigger issue that is rarely discussed is the issue of assumptions made by policymakers and educators about how children in these programs should be taught as well as what they need. I would remind everyone that what we want for our own children is what we should want for all children. Thinking that the only way to help children from poor and minority families succeed is to drill them to death and take away play as the means for learning is implicit bias and racism.

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    Nora Krieger, PhD
    Associate Professor Emerita/Past Chair NJEEPRE
    Bloomfield College/NJ Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia
    Highland Park, NJ
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  • 3.  RE: Three Recommendations to Address a Lack of Equity for Black and Latinx Children in Early Education

    Posted 12-23-2019 09:35 AM
    I agree with Nora Krieger, PhD comments. Our country has not passed legislation or policies that supports any recent research on neuroscience. Just our group size alone creates inequitable environments. The other aspect is the lack of leadership and advocacy. We applaud and gloat over other countries successes in ECE but seem paralyzed to address our own systems failures in supporting all young children. This is a social justice issue needs to be taken to the streets.

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    Steven Erwin
    Chico CA
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  • 4.  RE: Three Recommendations to Address a Lack of Equity for Black and Latinx Children in Early Education

    Posted 12-24-2019 01:28 PM
    This is so true Nora.  All children need play time, all children need down time, all children need attention, all children need caring adults guiding them.  Not all children learn in the same way, so all children need observant adults who can flex their teaching style and figure out what works best for each child in their care.  Expecting that a drill approach will work for everyone is just short-sighted, but assuming that that is the way to teach children from lower income families is entirely biased.

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    Joanie Calem
    Music and Inclusion Specialist
    Sing Along
    Columbus, OH
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  • 5.  RE: Three Recommendations to Address a Lack of Equity for Black and Latinx Children in Early Education

    Posted 12-24-2019 10:16 AM
    Until all adults working with- and creating policies for children address their own biases, moral compasses, and respect for diverse family lives and their ethnic ways of life, nothing will really change for the better.

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    Robin Howell
    Adjunct Professor
    Edinboro University
    Edinboro PA
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