For this week's assignment, I chose to look into the website for Early Childhood Australia at www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au to look into what kinds of issues are current for the early childhood professionals in Australia. There were many issues discussed on the website but as I was looking at the "Voice" which is the site's newsletter, I noticed that at the end of the publication for this past January, they showed a discussion that was posted on Facebook about how to celebrate Australia Day in the early childhood setting. Apparently, the holiday they celebrate in Australia called Australia Day, is a source of pride for some residents of Australia but for the Aboriginal people it is a source of pain. The discussion shown was about how to balance the celebration of the holiday while still being sensitive to the indigenous population at the same time.
This is a great example of a dilemma that we face regularly as early childhood professionals. We often face the challenge of balancing priorities for our very culturally diverse classes. This just happens to be a good example of how international issues can be different but the similar.
This website also contains articles published in the AJEC or the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. This journal contains articles that have subjects that seem very similar to articles here in the US. I suppose the similarities in issues shows how even though our cultures are different and our upbringing may be different, young children are very similar, even the same for the most part. Kids are kids, whether they are here in our country or in another.
Cari,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned about the dilemma that early childhood professionals is facing regularly and one of them is the challenge of racial and or cultural differences. We just need to recognize and respect the differences between people and find compromise solutions to this concern.
Early childhood professionals should be sensitive,appreciative and acceptance of all race is important.
Perhaps,researchers can start working on this issue and find solution on how we can resolve this issue.
Thank you for your post.
Cari,
ReplyDeleteFinding balance to meet the culturally diverse needs of all the families in a class can often present a challenge. I have found that being as respectful as possible to all families and truly listening to their concerns.
Cari,
ReplyDeleteI agree that cultural diversity is an issue that is frequent in the ECE setting. Once mutual respect and understanding is established, it will become some what easier to collaborate and maintain the balance needed to meet the needs of all families.