Checklist for
Quality Inclusive Education A SelfAssessment Tool and Manual for Early Childhood Settings edited by Rachel Langford with the Project Advisory Committee A Project of the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario
Checklist for
QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION A Selfassessment Tool and Manual for Early Childhood Settings
A Project of the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario edited by Rachel Langford with the Project Advisory Committee Geri Doerr Julie Dotsch Stan DoyleWood Elaine Frankel Michael Goodmurphy Susan Howson Michele Malette Elyssa Marks Faith Mundy Melanie Panitch Sheryl Ragobar Valerie Rhomberg Sarah Uffelmann Dick Winters
For further information contact: Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario P.0 Box 1486 Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0 www.ecrtno.ca
©Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario, September 1997 Material in the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education may be reproduced by early childhood educators, administrators and training faculty for educational use, provided they acknowledge the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario as the source and copyright owner of this material.
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education: A SelfAssessment Tool and Manual for Early Childhood Settings: A Project of the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario Includes bibliographical references. 1. Mainstreaming in education. 2. Early Childhood education. 3. Discrimination in education. I Langford, Rachel, 1952 II Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario LC3965.C46 1997
371.9'046
C979317541
CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction Rationale User Guidelines Definitions of Terms and Concepts Used
Unit I: Program 1.
Environment and Materials Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
2.
Schedules and Routines Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
3.
Assessment and Curriculum Planning Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
Unit II: Interactions with Children Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
Unit III: Working With Families Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
Unit IV: Policies and Procedures Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
Unit V: Professional Development Summary Page and Action Plan Resource Sheets and Bibliography
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is with great excitement that the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education (CQIE) comes to you. This project has not happened without the collaborative efforts of many. The advisory committee spent many hours generating the content of the CQIE. Many resource teachers/consultants, frontline educators, early childhood education training faculty, students and administrators gave us feedback along the way. Rachel Langford worked diligently and skilfully to reflect the many perspectives that shaped this project. We would especially like to thank the members of the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario for supporting this project not only in spirit but through a financial contribution. Membership dollars as well as a grant from the Trillium Foundation have made the CQIE a reality. We would also like to thank Metro Children’s Services, Toronto for generously providing a space to meet. So to you, the educator, we dedicate this work. Your daily interactions with children and families, your challenges and triumphs motivated the conception of this project. We hope the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education will help you articulate your own philosophy of inclusion, discuss and debate it with colleagues and translate it into meaningful, high quality practice.
Sheryl Ragobar
Sarah Uffelmann
Project CoChair
ProjectCoChair
MEMBERS OF THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Geri Doerr, Child Care Director, London Adult Learners’ Children’s Centre, London Julie Dotsch, Diversity Consultant, One World, Toronto Stan DoyleWood, Parent and Early Childhood Education Student, Toronto Dr. Elaine Frankel, Professor, School of Early Childhood Education, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto Michael Goodmurphy, Early Childhood Education Program Chair, Fanshawe College, London Susan Howson, Program Specialist, Metro Children’s Services, Toronto Michele Malette, Resource Teacher, Community Living Mississauga, Mississauga Elyssa Marks, Resource Educator, Metro Children’s Services, Toronto Faith Mundy, Program Coordinator, Metro Children’s Services, Toronto Melanie Panitch, Coordinator of Social Development and Public Education, Roeher Institute, North York Sheryl Ragobar, Project CoChair, Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario, London Valerie Rhomberg, Coordinator, School of Child and Family Studies, Canadian Mothercraft Society, Toronto Sarah Uffelmann, Project CoChair, Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario, London Dick Winters, Program Specialist, Metro Children’s Services, Toronto Additional input received from: Gyda Chud, Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator, Vancouver Community College, Vancouver Paul Fralick, Early Childhood Education Professor, Mohawk College, Hamilton Bayla Greenspoon, Program Coordinator, Early Childhood Multicultural Services, Vancouver Maureen Kellerman, Project Manager, Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs, Ottawa Goranka Vukelich, Early Childhood Educator, Halifax
INTRODUCTION TO The Checklist for QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION Fouryearold Julia runs into the play room and signs, “Hello.” Her teacher crouches down and signs while saying, “Buenos dias, Julia.” Julia has a hearing loss and wears hearing aids to assist her. Julia joins Justin in the block corner and snatches a toy truck from him. When the two children are unable to resolve the problem, another teacher intervenes. She faces Julia and using a combination of speech, gestures and signs tells Julia to ask for her turn. Julia signs, “my turn.” Justin shows four fingers to indicate four minutes and adds, “Then we can play together.” Julia nods and smiles. A while later, the two children are putting animals to sleep in the back of the truck. Julia, along with all Canadian children, is the inspiration for The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education (CQIE). Early childhood educators have a long tradition of focusing on the individual needs of each child. The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education takes this tradition further by broadening our understanding of the needs of young children and their families. The focus of the CQIE is on all aspects of Julia’s life: her physical, cognitive, language, and social abilities, her gender, her family, socioeconomic, racial and cultural background. We recognize that all these factors contribute to her selfidentity, selfesteem and to her growth and development. The complex lives of children reflect their needs in their care and education. Children will, however, vary in the type and range of support and resources they need as well as in the amount of time they require extra support. Thus, Julia requires early intervention in a program that promotes the development of her communication, cognitive and social skills. She may require further support in these developmental areas as she continues her schooling. She benefits from opportunities to play in both the dramatic and block centres so that, as a girl, she experiences a range of activities that will shape her future aspirations. She requires ongoing enhanced support such as a hot lunch program for healthy physical and emotional development. To build a trusting and respectful partnership with Julia’s mother, her teachers acknowledge her mother’s parenting strengths. Together, Julia’s family, speech/language therapist and educators have planned communication, cognitive and social skills programs for use at school and at home. Julia’s teachers encourage her family to continue speaking their first language at home so that her second language development is built upon a solid foundation of first language development. Throughout her education, Julia will proudly see her racial and cultural identity reflected in all aspects of programming and she will flourish in a program that provides enriching educational opportunities. The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education recognizes diversity in the experiences, abilities and needs of each Canadian child and family. To honour this diversity, the practice of inclusion is essential. The CQIE is one approach for identifying and assessing diversity and inclusion within Canadian early childhood settings.
THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: RATIONALE
A PHILOSOPHY OF INCLUSION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION A philosophy of inclusion in early childhood education assumes that all individuals have equal worth and rights. Inclusion is viewed as a precondition for the optimal growth and development of all human beings: educators, children and families. An educator committed to a philosophy of inclusion can be anyone involved in the care and education of young children and in working with their families: family resource centre staff, resource teachers/consultants, volunteers, caregivers, teachers, supervisors, and administrators. These educators actively promote acceptance and participation of all children and families in their programs, regardless of their diverse strengths or needs. A variety of programs in which diversity is recognized, naturally incorporated and celebrated as a source of enrichment rather than divisiveness among people are provided. Educators supporting inclusive education question attitudes toward diversity and acknowledge bias and prejudice in self and others, working effectively against them. In inclusive programs, each educator, child and family feels accepted and part of a welcoming community dedicated to high quality care and education. A philosophy of inclusion recognizes that the strengths and needs of children vary and that the range and intensity of support (e.g. assessment, services, resources, increased staffchild ratios) received by children and families will vary accordingly. Necessary and extra training, support, and funds are provided in quality inclusive education so that all children can fully participate in a program.
THE HISTORY OF THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROJECT In 1994, board members of the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario decided to create a checklist and manual to assist early childhood educators in assessing their inclusive practices. Many good resources exist that address the diverse needs of young children and their families. However, a review of these resources showed that the inclusion of children and families with disabilities and of children and families from culturally, racially or other diverse backgrounds were treated as two separate areas of research, development, implementation and evaluation. The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education Project was conceived to integrate these two areas of early childhood education so that the needs of all children and families could be addressed holistically. This approach to inclusion acknowledges the myriad of influences, (e.g. ability, culture, racial origins, and beliefs) that shape each child and family.
THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: RATIONALE
THE CREATION OF THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION The process of creating the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education (CQIE) began in November 1996, when an advisory committee of early childhood educators, family members, administrators and early childhood education training faculty with a background in diversity education and special needs inclusion met to consider best practices in inclusive care and education. The content and format of the CQIE were developed with input from this advisory committee. Educators across Canada reviewed draft forms and made recommendations for revisions.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION Educators can use the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education to assess how inclusive their practices are. They can celebrate and take pride in the best inclusive practices that they frequently demonstrate as well as work together to make changes in those practices occasionally or seldom demonstrated. The CQIE identifies and measures observable practices that define the optimal level of inclusion in early childhood education programs. The Checklist of Quality Inclusive Education is an evolving selfassessment tool. Educators’ understanding of diversity in Canadian society continues to develop and their way of honouring diversity through their practices continues to change. As educators across Canada use the CQIE they can record their own best practices and become part of its further development.
EDUCATOR CHANGE IN INCLUSIVE PRACTICES The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education is only one way in which educators can make changes in their inclusive practices. Changing practices involves many goals: assessing practices, receiving postgraduate training and developing a knowledge of resources. As educators gain new attitudes and knowledge about their inclusive practices and new skills, they affect desired changes. When educators see the benefits of these changes for children, families and themselves, their commitment to inclusion is affirmed and strengthened.
THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: USER GUIDELINES
WHO CAN USE THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION Early childhood educators in both centre and home child care settings, preschools, before/after school programs, in family resource programs and in kindergarten and early primary classrooms can use the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education. Throughout the CQIE, the educator is identified as “I”, e.g. Do I plan a flexible schedule so that children can take more or less time to eat, toilet or get dressed. The first person is used to acknowledge the important role each educator has in assessing, recommending and practising quality inclusive education. When an educator’s ability to take individual action is limited in an early childhood setting, the CQIE helps educators identify what they can collaboratively and personally achieve.
A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO CHANGE One way to assess and make changes in inclusive practices is for all members of an early childhood setting to work together. A collaborative team can include caregivers, teachers, resource staff, administrators, family members, board members, students and community members. All potential participants in the collaborative approach have different perspectives, responsibilities and roles and a unique contribution to make to the process of assessment and change. The commitment brought to the change process increases when staff members responsible for implementing the changes are actively involved. After a decision is made to assess inclusive practices, the following steps can be helpful:
Consider who will participate in the assessment. Participation will vary from program to program. However, successful change is more likely to occur when the collaborative team represents different groups within the early childhood setting and when strong leadership is present.
Clarify the purpose for undertaking the assessment. This may involve identifying needs and issues, clarifying goals and priorities and understanding and accepting the need for change.
Decide which with section of the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education to start. This decision will vary among collaborative teams. Some may wish to start small and focus on one aspect of their program such as Schedules and Routines or Assessment and Curriculum. Other teams may see a need for greater Professional Development and use Unit V to assess strengths and areas for change. Still other teams may find that their experience with more diverse families requires them to assess their inclusive practices in Unit III, Working with Families.
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THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: USER GUIDELINES
Decide how the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education will be completed. Each member of the collaborative team can assess their practices individually and then the team can meet to discuss individual responses and actions for both individual and group change. Alternatively the team can assess practices within their setting and discuss and record group responses.
Identify any resistance or barriers to either completing the assessment or in recognizing strengths and areas for improvements. Sometimes participants are uncomfortable with including people who are different and may react negatively to checklist questions that affirm inclusion. Change is difficult to achieve if discomfort and resistance are not addressed. People need opportunities to discuss concerns and to identify their fears. Effective problemsolving skills are invaluable during this process.
AN INDIVIDUAL APPROACH TO CHANGE In some instances, the CQIE may be used individually by an educator wishing to improve personal inclusive practices. Or an educator seeking to improve inclusive practices within her/his setting may initiate an assessment of them. In this case, the individual educator will need to use skilful group problemsolving strategies to present the results of the assessment and facilitate a discussion about practices and needed changes.
HOW TO USE THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION There are three stages to using the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education Stage I: Assessment Stage II: Action Plan Stage III: Implementation and Review
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THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: USER GUIDELINES
STAGE I: ASSESSMENT The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education is divided in five units: I: ProgramThe Program Unit in divided into three sections: I: 1.Environment and Materials (Buff) I: 2 Schedules and Routines (Golden Rod) I: 3 Assessment and Curriculum Planning (Yellow) II: Interactions with Children (Blue) III: Working With Families (Green) IV: Policies and Procedures (Orange) V: Professional Development (Pink) Each section can be used independently at different times during the evaluation process. Staff members can decide together with which UNIT to begin after considering inclusive practices they want to assess and change. Each unit consists of a comprehensive list of PRINCIPLES of inclusive practices. The listed principles are supported by QUESTIONS that concretely demonstrate a high level of inclusion in an early childhood setting. Each question is assigned three possible RESPONSES. The responses offer an efficient tool to identify and measure educators’ level of inclusion. The responses are categorized using the terms: frequently, occasionally and seldom. Frequently: Those behaviours that are part of a range of practices. Occasionally: Those behaviours that are part of a range of practices but are sometimes not demonstrated. Seldom: Those behaviours that are not demonstrated. NOTE: A nonapplicable response (N/A) is not used in the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education. Educators sometimes assume that if particular children and families are not represented in their setting then some inclusive materials and practices are not necessary. However, an important principle of inclusion is that all children in every aspect of their development benefit from an inclusive education. Therefore, the response, seldom, provides educators with the opportunity to consider the possibility of changing a practice that they may have first viewed as unnecessary.
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THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: USER GUIDELINES
Each question also has a blank area, identified by an » ICON for educators to record EXAMPLES of practices, to acknowledge strengths in practices or to identify barriers to change. Throughout each Unit a number of terms are used that require DEFINITIONS. Some general terms (in bold) related to inclusion are defined in the definitions section of this manual. Other more specific terms (italicised) are defined at the bottom of the page on which they appear. RESOURCE SHEETS located at the end of each Unit & Section or Unit may also clarify some of the questions in the CQIE and help educators select an appropriate response. Resource Sheets are: UNIT I: 1 Multicultural/AntiBias Equipment Resource List Creative, Inexpensive Ways to Acquire Materials for An Inclusive Environment Using Materials in an Inclusive Early Childhood Setting UNIT I: 2 How Flexible Are You About Schedules and Routines? Considerations and Activities for MultiAge Family Group Care and Education Home Visits: Easing the Transition From Home to the Early Childhood Setting Attachments and Separations Within an Early Childhood Setting UNIT I: 3 The Transdisciplinary Approach to Individualized GoalSetting Assessing and Evaluating Children’s Strengths, Needs and Progress Use of Increased Staffing to Support Inclusion Celebrating Holidays in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings: Some Guidelines UNIT II He, She or It?: Using GenderNeutral Language What’s in a Label: Using Inclusive Language to Describe Children and Families Building Tolerance and Acceptance in Young Children Confronting the Challenge of Children with Behaviour Difficulties UNIT III Sexuality and Families Working Together with Families Identifying Community Services for Families FamilyCentred Care and Assessment UNIT IV Including All Children in Early Childhood Settings Diversity in Early Childhood Staff and Volunteers: The Benefits
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THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: USER GUIDELINES
UNIT V The Process of Change Six Steps to Staff ProblemSolving Early Childhood Educators as Advocates Making Changes in Inclusive Practices Through Mentoring
STAGE II: ACTION PLAN After a CQIE Unit is completed, a collaborative team or individual educator can record the number of responses for each category (frequently, occasionally and seldom) on a SUMMARY OF QUALITY INCLUSIVE PRACTICES PAGE. The summary page, which follows the Unit, documents strengths in inclusive practices and areas requiring improvement and change.
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS The collaborative team or individual teacher then uses the Summary Page as the basis for an ACTION PLAN. Goals and accompanying strategies that concretely identify what to do to become more inclusive can be listed as well as necessary resources (money, people, materials, time, creative thinking) and time lines. Educators may decide to focus on several goals or one key goal. Resource Sheets located after the Action Plan will help educators identify more resources and strategies to implement changes in inclusive practices. These Resource Sheets are based on suggestions made by educators who reviewed draft copies of the Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education. Educators can add additional resource material to this binder. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHIES found after the Resource Sheets direct educators to other valuable sources of information and strategies that can be used to develop an action plan.
STAGE III: IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW During this stage, all staff members work together to implement changes and observe the resulting outcomes. Individual educators may make changes in their own practices. Observations of children, adult/child interactions and adult/adult interactions may be part of the implementation stage. It is important to stop, celebrate and be inspired by successful changes. At a predetermined time interval the collaborative team or an individual educator can review goals in an action plan and assess the success of the changes. This review will require a second completion of the CQIE (using an alternate colour of ink) so that changes are noted. The Checklist for Quality Inclusive Education can continue to be used as a selfassessment tool, particularly as the needs of staff, children and families in an early childhood setting change.
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND CONCEPTS USED IN THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION INTRODUCTION Definitions or shared understandings of terms and concepts related to a philosophy of inclusion are central to effectively assessing inclusive practices in early childhood settings. Terms and concepts such as bias, family composition, racism and sexuality are often controversial and their definitions are open to much interpretation. The definitions provided here are offered to promote a shared understanding between educators so that the CQIE can be used efficiently and changes in practices can be collaboratively implemented. The following definitions represent meanings for terms and concepts used in the CQIE. These definitions have been adapted from a broad range of sources and provide a general indication of word usage in current writings and discourse on inclusion and diversity education. Terms and concepts are grouped under a general section and ten diversity headings: ability, age, appearance, beliefs, culture, family composition, gender, race, socioeconomic status and sexuality.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONCEPTS Diversity encompasses the broad range of similarities and differences within individuals and groups with respect to ability, age, appearance, beliefs, culture, family composition, gender, race, socioeconomic status or sexuality. Throughout the CQIE, the phrase, the diverse needs of children and families, is used. Sometimes references are made to diversity within family practices, such as diverse childrearing practices. Bias is any belief or feeling that tends to favour or reject individuals, groups, ideas or events because of their ability, age, appearance, beliefs, culture, family composition, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or sexuality. In the CQIE, reference is made to assessment tools that may be biased because they are not sensitive to developmental, cultural, socioeconomic or linguistic diversity. Biases develop from stereotypes which are representations of people, ideas or things based on oversimplication or overweighing of a few characteristics. These overgeneralized assumptions and perceptions are then applied to all individuals within a group. Nonstereotypic representations of diverse groups show similarities and differences between and within members of a group respectfully in a range of human features, values and behaviours. Discrimination is action based on biases that withhold rights, privileges and power from some groups and individuals while granting them to others. For example, children can be accepted in or excluded from an early childhood setting depending on the resources and skills currently available in that setting. Necessary supports are provided to combat this discrimination and ensure that all children can participate in the program.
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS Inequity is imbalances in the ability of individuals and groups to access resources, rights and rewards. For example, minimal contact in early childhood settings between educators and families from culturally, linguistically and racially diverse groups has been documented (Bernhard J.K., et al.1996). Families from these groups have less opportunities to communicate their support, interests, and concerns to educators. Antibias is an approach that includes analysis, policies and practices that actively challenges and opposes biases, discrimination and inequities to bring about changes for the better. Antibias education encompasses two goals: to encourage critical thinking about any and all bias and to foster people’s ability to “stand up” for themselves and for others in the face of discrimination, stereotyping and unfair and unjust attitudes and behaviours (DermanSparks L. 1989). Resources and materials that are biasfree represent diversity areas in respectful and nonstereotypic ways. Equity means treating everyone fairly and meeting their individual needs. The term equity in interaction, used in the Unit: Working with Families, refers to the need for educators to equally interact with all families and to find ways to foster interaction if communication is difficult. Equity in representation is evident when educators show a variety of visual images that represent individuals and groups from all the diversity areas. Equity in access refers to the ability of all children and families to become part of and belong to an early childhood setting. ABILITY All people have varying abilities at different times in their life that may require different types and levels of support. In general, the CQIE uses the term varying abilities rather than the terms, disabilities or special needs, which suggest the segregation of some children rather than their inclusion. In some cases, the term developmental abilities is used and refers to a range of abilities in physical, mental, sensory (hearing or visual) and social/emotional functioning, that impacts on the development of an individual. Each developmental ability can range from slight to severe in the way in which it affects a particular child or adult. Supported care and/or education may be needed to enhance physical, mental, sensory and socioemotional functioning. Individuals with varying and/or developmental abilities have additional support needs (e.g. funding, assessment, assistance, resources) and require program adaptations or adaptive supports throughout or at different times in their care and education. The CQIE provides comprehensive lists of program adaptations for all children and families. Augmentative communication is alternative means of communication and can include signing, pictures or a computer touch screen. Currently in Canada, not all children with varying abilities are included in early childhood settings. Inclusion for children with varying abilities remains a voluntary decision of educators in a setting. Educators respond to a family’s request on a childbychild basis, admitting or excluding a particular child depending on the resources and skills currently available to that centre. A key principle of the CQIE is that no child should ever be excluded for reasons of level or type of varying ability (the principle of zero rejection). Extra funding, consultation, training, staff and resources are necessary to uphold the rights of children with varying abilities to be included in early childhood settings.
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS AGE Age refers to looking or being old or young. Words such as old and young objectively describe age, but they also can have positive or negative connotations. The adults are viewed positively as possessing the most power and status in North American culture whereas both old and young are viewed negatively as being less and different. Visual displays that positively depict a wide range of ages influence children to value and accept diversity in age. APPEARANCE Appearance refers to height (short, tall), size (fat, skinny) and conditions that disfigure (scars or burns). In North American culture, biases are shown toward those individuals who are outside what is valued as the norm: lightskinned, skinny, mediumheight. When educators intervene in situations where children negatively describe appearance, they influence children to value and respect diversity in appearance. BELIEFS Beliefs encompass what an individual does or does not believe in. This includes various institutionalized religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism), atheism, or belief in the power of nature and spiritualism. Beliefs can be an intrinsic part of a group’s or individual’s behaviour and can affect various family practices such as food preparation, routines and childrearing. Inclusive programs may seek to take into account the beliefs of staff when they make changes in, for example, their policies and procedures to include leave for different religious holidays or observances. CULTURE Culture is a way of living shared with other members of the same group; this can include ways of thinking, beliefs, language spoken and written, holidays and celebrations and customs. Each of us belongs to different or to a variety of cultures found within the family, ethnic groups and Canadian society. A cultural minority is any cultural category that is seen by the majority in society as inferior in that it offends against the norm of that society. The members of a cultural minority experience discrimination by the majority and are thus denied political, economic and social rights. Cultural traditions are practices that have been maintained historically by individuals or groups although they may change over time. Often in early childhood settings, visual displays are multicultural in that they represent diverse cultural groups within the setting, community or within Canada. Crosscultural childrearing practices refer to the similar and different ways in which families in cultural groups raise their children. Individual families within cultural groups also raise their children in similar and different ways. Cultural shock describes the physical and psychological impact of a totally new culture upon a newcomer. Children and adults can experience cultural adjustment when they have to shift from one cultural environment such as their country of origin or community to another such as an early childhood setting. People experiencing culture shock and/or adjustment are faced with differences in values, behaviours and expectations as well as language differences. Responses to these differences can include disorientation, withdrawal, fear and anxiety and physical symptoms such as eating and sleeping disruptions.
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS
There are many regional differences in Canada and various regions show different cultural practices and traditions, often represented in food, music and language. A first language indicates the language or languages children learn first in their family. Other similar terms used include home language and linguistic heritage or background. A bilingual person has the ability to speak two languages. A multilingual person has facility in more than two languages. A linguistic minority is any linguistic category that is seen by the majority in society as inferior in that it offends against what is considered by the majority as “normal” language use. FAMILY COMPOSITION Family composition refers to the particular way families define themselves, which includes who is in the family and what role is assigned to individual members. Diverse family compositions include: twoparent, foster, biracial, blended, adopted, communal, oneparent, gay, lesbian and extended groupings in which extended family members (e. g. aunts, grandparents) are responsible for the care and raising of children. Based on its composition, a family may be excluded from full participation in a program because educators are uncomfortable and have limited interactions with that family. Stereotyping of families as dysfunctional because they do not fit the norm of a twoparent family may also prevent some families from feeling that they are valued members of an early childhood setting. GENDER Sex designates a person as male or female whereas gender refers to societal definitions of “appropriate” female and male traits and behaviours. A gender stereotype exaggerates what is presumed to be characteristics of all females, such as passivity, and of all males, such as aggression. Traditional gender roles exist when women are expected within the family to assume such responsibilities as child rearing and housework and men are expected to do maintenance and manage the finances. In the workplace, some traditional gender roles for women are teaching, child care and nursing whereas for men they are engineering and management. Nontraditional gender roles are when women and men are expected to assume family responsibilities and job positions based not on their gender but on interests, qualifications and experience. Discrimination based on gender is called sexism. Sexist language excludes one sex from a role or activity (e.g. weatherman) or reinforces gender stereotyping (e.g. manly, sissy, old maid). Gender neutral language or biasfree language includes all people. For example, the title ballet dancer rather than ballerina, suggests that both girls and boys can grow up to be dancers. When a language uses job titles that always refer to one sex, children come to assume that members of only one sex can and do that work. Inclusive job titles welcome both women and men to a variety of occupations and help organizations maximize their “people power.”
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS
RACE Race refers to a group of people connected by a common origin and a set of physical characteristics that are genetically determined such as skin colour, hair form and facial and body appearance but at the same time, that show great individual variation. Each race incorporates many ethnic groups that describe a shared racial/ historical/geographical/social and linguistic background of a group of people. A multiracial representation such as a visual display or book illustration depicts a variety of racial groups. Racism is prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination based upon racial differences that favour and legitimize one race above others. Currently in North America, racism reflects a belief in the superiority of white people and the inferiority of other racial groups. Rights, privileges and power can be withheld from these groups and individuals based upon their race. For example, an educator may have low expectations of a child because he/she assumes “the child’s race doesn’t value education.” Consequently, he/she may provide less educational opportunities for the child. Racist language attributes negative, demeaning behaviour to certain racial groups e.g. members of the group are lazy or greedy. As a result of socialization, educators’, children’s and families’ daily attitudes and actions can unintentionally include only the ideas, images, needs, interests and contributions of a dominant white culture and exclude those of nondominant racial and ethnic groups. As well, educators may not see when their coworkers and/or children are excluding and discriminating against a person or group based on their race or ethnicity. The CQIE offers ways of identifying indicators of racism and proactive initiatives to combat racism. Aboriginal people refer to the first peoples present in North America before European immigration. Different groups and individuals have preferences as to which term to use: aboriginal, indigenous, First Nations, Native. The Métis are descendants of aboriginal peoples and European parents, whose ancestry represents a distinct racial and cultural group unique to Canada. SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Socioeconomic status or background is determined by a person’s occupation, type of housing, clothing, mode of transportation and educational background. Terms such as working class, lower class, middle class and upper class also indicate social divisions, worth and status within different societies. Socioeconomic status should not be used to attribute personal traits or characteristics to any child or family members; for example, we cannot assume a working class family values education less than an upper class family. Socioeconomic situations may need to be understood when considering inclusive practices and policies. In some cases, not all families can afford costly field trips so a financial policy may need to be changed to reflect this socioeconomic situation.
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CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: DEFINITIONS
SEXUALITY Sexuality refers to sexual orientation and preferences, including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality. A lesbian or gay family describes a family composition in which the parents are the same sex. Homophobia is fear, rejection and/or discrimination of homosexuality and people who are gay or lesbian. Homophobic language makes fun of and denigrates gay and lesbian people. Although some social groups condone homosexuality, educators working in diverse early childhood education settings need to develop practices that enable them to work effectively and respectfully with all families. CQIE definitions adapted from the following resources: Chud, Gyda and Ruth Falmann. (1995). Honouring Diversity within Child Care and Early Education. An Instructor’s Guide, Volume II. Vancouver, BC: Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour. Hall, Nadia Sanderman and Valerie Rhomberg. (1995). The Affective Curriculum: Teaching the AntiBias Approach to Young Children. Toronto, ON: Nelson Canada. Irwin, Sharon Hope. (1997, Winter). “Including All Children.” Interaction. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Child Care Federation. Vol. 10. (4), pp. 1516.
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