Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

     The consequences I might expect for the children and families with whom I work while I experience specific "ism(s)" in my own life is racism, sexism, and ageism. The reason I chose racism is due to my experience now as a professional and as a African American living in todays society and also living as a middle class family who has to work everyday. The reason I chose sexism is most of the time women are not priviledged to the type of jobs they are educated to perform. And also on certain jobs men feel that over weight females can not work on jobs even though they have the same degrees or higher. My reasoning for choosing age-ism is closley relate to my beliefs about sexism. The consequences is that certain areas I demonstrate my professionalism, there are still people out there that view me as being African American and may not deserve the same opportunties as people who are white. Also my age may have obstacles that might hinder me in a society which view are painted by what they percieved to be the perfect fit for how women are suppose to look on a certain job, and also those situations where some jobs may want people of a certain age group. I realize that labels hurt, and can damage a person for the rest of their lives. I want to be the one to make a differences in the lives of my children and their families where they don not have to feel hurt from the "ism(s)" in society base on their gender, color, race, economic status, or the class they belong to. I have learned from my studies in previous classes that as an anti-bias educator I have to let go of my biases, and also to recogniz those that are hidden, if I want to make a difference in the lives of the children and their families I work with on a daily basis ( Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards,2010).
   One thing I do know is that no matter what, these feelings ot hurtful experiences will no cause me to be frustrated or change my views when working with my children or their families. My heart is always open to listening and for helping. One thing I will remember from taking all of my courses this far in this program is it does not matter who you are based on your gender, race, culture age, sex-orientation, religious beiefs or age, respect goes a long way. I have to always recall what I learned about the Golden Rule, which is to treat others the way you would like to be treated", this is a statement to live by for successful daily interaction with anyone, especially the families and children we interact with. I am empowered with knowledge, I am encouraged, I am motivated, and I have the passion for teaching and working with children.

    If I allow the negative views of the world and society to interfer with these, then the people who have made me feel this way, win. This will cause me to have negative feelings which will be demonstrated through my behaviors, interactions, and the way I communicate with the children in the classroom as well as the way I may communicate with the families. I understand the consequences of "ism (s)', and I refuse to let them get in the way of children having a healthy development and learning opportunity in order to become productive citizens in a society where views are frowned upon based on your identity , economic status, class, sexual orientation, etc....

Reference
Derman-Sparks, L., Olsen-Edwards (2010). Anti-Bias education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children, Washington, DC. (NAEYC).