My hopes for the future as an early childhood professional, and for the children and families with whom I will work

It is my greatest hope that all children will grow, develop and learn in an environment that affirms their self identity. Children should feel welcomed, accepted and nurtured by their families, school and community. My hope is for current and future early childhood educators to learn to recognize and respond to children's curiosity and questions about others and their differences, and to learn to approach those differences not as something to be afraid of, but as something to embrace and enjoy, because those differences are what make us beautiful. Jimmy Carter (39th President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient) once said that "We have become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." While many of these hopes and dreams may differ on the surface, many parents have a common hope and dream for their child to grow up healthy, strong and successful, by whatever means their culture uses to define these characteristics. It is also my hope that educators regardless of whether they work in early childhood or with older students, learn to put aside their prejudices and foster the growth and development of all students and families. Henry David Thoreau once said that "It is never too late to give up our prejudices.", and I believe that he is right. While it may never be too late, it is a long journey that requires commitment, dedication and deep reflection about why you think a certain way, and the action plan necessary to change that thinking. These are my hopes for the future as an early childhood professional.

Notable Quotes

If tolerance, respect and equity permeate family life, they will translate into values that shape societies, nations and the world.
—Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (1997-2007)

 

We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.
- Kofi Annan

 

Diversity is not about how we differ. It is about embracing one another's uniqueness.
—Ola Joseph, Nigerian author and inspirational speaker

 

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
—Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient

 

When I am able to resist the temptation to judge others,
I can see them as teachers.
- Gerald Jampolsky

 

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

                             
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

 

Finally, I would like to close with a note of sincere thanks to all of my colleagues this term at Walden. We have learned much from each other, and I hope to take my learning back to the classroom and use it to enrich the lives of others. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, inspiration, and experiences. Seeing things from other perspectives and listening to others who have dealt with challenging situations is inspiring. Good luck to everyone in our final course at Walden, I wish everyone the best of luck in the future!