Child 1: Can I play?
Othe children: No. It's a club. You're not cool enough.
Child 1: But I want to play.
Children: Ok, but you have to put dirt on your face
Child 1: You don't have dirt on
your face.
Teacher: I see bullying. What do I do?
My Idea: Read Vivian Paley.
Teacher: Why?
Me: Your children may be older than three, but this quote from Paley's book,
Mollie is Three, applies: "…the children and I are learning to ask questions about the crucial issues in a preschool classroom. We are not concerned about how the color green is made. But we do need to find the logic by which private fantasies are turned into social play, and social play into a rule-governed society of children and teachers. Contentment lies in uncovering - not dismantling - the plot. It is clear to me that when I comment less on disruption and spend more time helping children talk about the characters and plot, the quality of the play advances."
To find time to talk about characters and plot, try storytelling and story acting (STSA), Paley's signature activity:
STSA Basics: 1 Ask children if they have a story to tell 2 Write down their words. 3 Ask each author who they are going to be in the story 4 Move to rug to act out all the stories. 5 Ask other children, one by one, if they want to be other characters 6 Allow children to reject or accept invitation to act in someone else's story
List of things for adults to think about:What does having a club mean to the children? What's with the dirt?
Does the club have running water or do they live near a stream?
Does the club have a door? What would happen if someone knocked on it?
In the story of the 3 little pigs, there was huffing and puffing and a blowing down of houses; are these good ideas?
RELATED: Lynn, age 5: I'm the hamster police! You have to go to jail.
Connor, age 4: Ms. Resa, they said I have to go to jail.
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Resa Matlock: Retired Producer of Training Videos for EC Professionals :: Student of Story & Play :: Ann Arbor MI
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Resa Matlock
Ann Arbor MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2022 12:26 AM
From: Carin Schachat
Subject: How do you define the case is an ethical issue or an ethical dilemma?
Hi Grace,
I am going to have to say this is an ethical responsibility.
Two ideals of NAEYC's Code of Ethics are:I-1.4-To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.
I-1.5-To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
The overlying Principal is:
P-1.1-Above all, we shall not harm children. We shall not participate in practices that are emotionally dam- aging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative, or intimidating to children. This principle has precedence over all others in this Code.
Carl's vulnerability is evident - he is being excluded for no reason. While I do not promote that we "need to be friends with everyone," we absolutely DO need to RESPECT everyone in the class/school/playground/community... These boys are violating Carl's right to feel respected. They are using degrading behaviors and words. Clubs are exclusionary. This is a teaching moment for you and your students...how do we treat others? Why can Carl play if he smears dirt on himself? How would they feel if someone told them they had to do that? What does it mean to be "cool?" There is a lot going on in this scenario, not the least of which is discrimination. I do not know the age of your students, but it doesn't really matter. They need to be taught how to live and work together as a community, with fairness and respect for one another. I would recommend looking into the book Anti-Bias for Young Children and Ourselves. It's an excellent resource! Good luck.
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Carin Schachat
Early Childhood Educator
Gindi Maimonides Academy
Beverly Hills CA
Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2022 02:11 AM
From: Grace Fong
Subject: How do you define the case is an ethical issue or an ethical dilemma?
My case is that children are outside during outdoor play. A group of three boys is off playing by themselves. Another boy, Carl, approaches them and asks if he can play with them. One of the three boys says they have formed a club, and since Carl is not a member, he cannot play. Carl asks about the club, and the boy says that Carl cannot join the club. The boy says it is the "cool" club, and Carl is not cool enough to be in the club. Carl keeps persisting, saying he wants to play and asking how he can get into the club. The same boy says that if Carl smears dirt on his face, they will let him into the club. Carl points out that none of the other boys have soil on their faces. The boys replay that it does not matter. We know this is bullying behavior. My question is, how do you handle this situation based on the guidelines of NAEYS? Does NAEYC have any principles or Ideals that it may refer to?
I am open to any advice or recommendation from all of your experiences. Thank you so much!
Grace
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Grace Fong
San Diego CA
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