So What Is This Idea About All Being 'Equal'?

Are we all EQUAL ?

Think about the fact that we each have our own unique genetic makeup, we've had 9mths of the environment having its effects on the foetus, then there are going to be all the effects of being born a fe/male, growing up in a particular location with a family that has its own family culture and having its ongoing impact on your personality!

So from that you should have worked through that not only are we not equal but with all our differences we are all very unequal!

So what is this idea about all being 'equal'?

What we should be talking about is ' equity '.

Please look this up.

For our purposes we will be talking about our children and families having 'equal access to resources ( that's to the service, the program, the equipment and to you as an educator) and opportunities ( that's about your children and families being facilitated according to their individual needs to all of the resources ).

The use of the word 'race'.

This word has been around for a long time and is embedded into our everyday discussions as well as being in legislation, that is that we can't discriminate against people on the basis of so called 'race'.

The concept of race should now be seen as outmoded and in science totally incorrect as we now know through genetic research that we humans are all the SAME race - that is we are all homo sapiens !

The only thing that makes us different are the different characteristics that have evolved to ensure each group survived. So those with a dark skin tone have come from regions in the world where there is lot of sun or sun reflecting on the snow. It is the melamine in their skin ( that's the pigment that gives us our so called skin colour) that protects them from dying off from skin cancer and ensures we all get the right amount of Vitamin D for strong bones.

Another example is tight, curly water repellent hair. This evolved in regions where severe tropical down pours occurred - if you can't dry your hair quickly you will probably fall prey to any virus going around!

So please no using the word race - it is far more accurate to talk about us all having our own ' family culture' which makes each family and it's members unique.

Think about all the influences that have made you and your family unique.

The family genetics, fe/male, birth order, the number of siblings, the food you eat and it's nutritional value, where you live and it's physical environment, the beliefs and cultural practices carried out by the family, use of language, parenting styles ...... and so the list goes on. All of this showing the complexity of the families you will be working with and of course the same goes for you and your family culture!

Discrimination

The next concept we need to talk about that relates to inclusion or more to the point exclusion is ' discrimination'.

Now the ability to discriminate is hugely important in our ability to learn. However what our role is to assist children to learn the differences BETWEEN people and experiences but not to judge AGAINST people and experiences on a perception or feeling that may or may not be correct eg a 4yr old child is ' a baby' because she can't talk, someone who has a dark skin tone is 'dirty', a person who is of pale skin tone can' t be Aboriginal, if a boy dresses up in a tutu he is a 'poofter' and only girls can wear pink.

Our babies can discriminate between faces from the age of 9 mths approx. so it is from this time on we need to be providing our children with experiences that will prepare them for our diverse physical features, fe/male roles, dis/ ability, family cultures and practices and different ways about thinking on a whole range of issues and beliefs. ( see the 4 principles of inclusion)

4 Goals of Anti - Bias ( Inclusion) paraphrased from Derman & Sparks 1. For each child to feel good about themselves.

This relates to developing a sense of trust in others and in the environment in which child engage in. It is also about positive self esteem and identity; and a being ' autonomous' For each child to know what it is about themselves that is unique & special

2. For each child to explore and be able to express , using appropriate language, knowledge of our differences.

3. For each child to recognize what is ' unfair' & to know that unfairness hurts . This is when we say that a person is being discriminated against and we need to explore why?

4. For child to learn about empowerment, to learn what advocacy is about and to use those skills advocate on behalf of others.