These were my exact thoughts in 2010, before I had began college and dove into early childhood education. Prior to college I was a babysitter for children in my community. I placed those children in front of the television to pass time, I took them to the park but only watched them, I would make them be nice to their other sibling with out any explanations given. I thought I was the coolest babysitter ever, and that I had everything under control, I was the big boss, I made the children sing songs, I made them draw and write, I made them read books to one another, not knowing the damage that I may have caused them. Yes, I was not an educator and it wasn't my role to educate these children, but I am at fault for not caring, respecting, listening, playing and nurturing these children to the best of my capabilities.
Is this how all people view our children? what a horrid culture we live in...
Do we all have a common lens?
Is this lens societies fault?
How do we change it?
Do we even want to change the lens?
Children are not empty vessels, they are full with imaginations that far exceeds their wildest minds, and it's people like my 2010 self who destroys children and their capabilities.
Seeing children in a lens that respect them, that value them, that sees their capabilities and possibilities, to read and observe their every language because they are speaking to us through their words, actions, art, interactions, and so forth, its through this type of lens that we can bring out the utmost brilliance of a child.
"Your task is to figure out the most respectful, least-interrupting ways you can assist children in their intellectual, social, and emotional development, (Clemens, 56)."
Children especially in this day and age are portrayed on social media as naughty, the worst bunch of children because they lack disciplined parents, or for whatever cause, why is that?
Does this have any significance to the lens we wear as educators?
At a site I observed, I spoke with a non early childhood teacher, and she notices "naughty children" "the spoiled child" "the troubled child" "the shy child" all of these labeled children, and she explained it to me one day that "this child is the only child so he's spoiled and doesn't get disciplined!" or "this parent is young I don't think she knows too much about children because she's always working and so on." Such a troubling lens (assumptions) this one teacher has about children, yet she couldn't see the wonders that this individual as him self has. All these outside factors just contribute to her overall lens of her children, rather then seeing the individuals strengths and imagination.
So how are we supposed to change our lens?
Where do we buy this "NEW" lens?
Is it even new?
How do i get a pair of these lens?
"I want them to find out about Laura from Laura herself, instead of depending on GENERALIZED KNOWLEDGE about her stage of life, learned from a textbook. We must respect and attend to the child in front of us, and never depend solely on abstractions or generalizations. The documentation process guides us toward a more mindful, targeted response that has a greater potential to fulfill the child's intention than any instant, immediate reaction could, (Clemens, 82)."
From my perspective, it seems that we need to start today with our own children, either at home or in the classroom. As we begin to trust the children and allow them the respect that they deserve, then that's where our changing of lens would occur...
But is it ever just that easy???
Created-->Tuesday August 26, 2014 12:17am
Clemens, Sydney G., and Gleim, Leslie. Seeing young children with new eyes: what we've learned from Reggio Emilia. Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, 2012.
