This Master’s program has certainly been a journey of self-reflection and personal growth. There were three terms that I learned over the past year that helped me to put words to my past experiences and gave me a greater understanding of the “human” experience: Christian privilege, institutional racism, and differently abled.
Christian privilege is the system of advantages bestowed upon Christians based on the presumption that the belief in Christianity is a social norm. The problem is that Christian privilege describes institutional religious discrimination which excluded or alienates the non-Christian and the nonreligious population. While I am Christian, I never want to make any other person feel isolated, especially when it comes to religion, because the core of my religion is the commandment to love (John 13:34).
Institutional racism is a form of racism that is a part of a society. Whether implicitly or explicitly expressed, institutional racism occurs when any certain group is targeted and discriminated against based upon race. While I have always known this exists, I learned of the terminology only recently. The problem with institutional racism is that everybody accepts it as the norm and nobody challenges this (still today).
Differently abled is a term used instead of the terms disabled or handicapped. This is meant to emphasize one’s abilities rather than focus on impairments. Hopefully everyone realizes that we all have varying levels of strength in varying areas. We all have areas that we have to ask others for help in.
A long term goal that I have as an early childhood professional is to never, ever get complacent. As issues in religionism, racism, ableism and any other ism arises in my presence, I want to know as the woman who fights against social injustice on behalf of children, families, and all people. I never want to be a person who sits and does nothing at the site of “foolishness”. I want be bold within the profession and in life.
Farewell message
I am truly grateful for the transparency and openness of my colleague throughout this program. We have shared stories and insight concerning some very sensitive topics. In a day in time when we are encouraged to be “politically correct” I have certainly gained an understanding about the prospective that we all have concerning our profession and life in general. It’s not about being right or wrong. But it is about how we have all traveled many different roads that lead us to a common place. I encourage everyone to continue to be true to who you are, keep a compassionate heart, and let your passions for children’s education and well-being guide your decision-making. I really feel like if you are doing something special, you will ruffle some feathers. If everything is always quiet and peaceful around you, you are not doing much.
Congratulation on completing your Master’s program in Early Childhood Studies!
Christian privilege is the system of advantages bestowed upon Christians based on the presumption that the belief in Christianity is a social norm. The problem is that Christian privilege describes institutional religious discrimination which excluded or alienates the non-Christian and the nonreligious population. While I am Christian, I never want to make any other person feel isolated, especially when it comes to religion, because the core of my religion is the commandment to love (John 13:34).
Institutional racism is a form of racism that is a part of a society. Whether implicitly or explicitly expressed, institutional racism occurs when any certain group is targeted and discriminated against based upon race. While I have always known this exists, I learned of the terminology only recently. The problem with institutional racism is that everybody accepts it as the norm and nobody challenges this (still today).
Differently abled is a term used instead of the terms disabled or handicapped. This is meant to emphasize one’s abilities rather than focus on impairments. Hopefully everyone realizes that we all have varying levels of strength in varying areas. We all have areas that we have to ask others for help in.
A long term goal that I have as an early childhood professional is to never, ever get complacent. As issues in religionism, racism, ableism and any other ism arises in my presence, I want to know as the woman who fights against social injustice on behalf of children, families, and all people. I never want to be a person who sits and does nothing at the site of “foolishness”. I want be bold within the profession and in life.
Farewell message
I am truly grateful for the transparency and openness of my colleague throughout this program. We have shared stories and insight concerning some very sensitive topics. In a day in time when we are encouraged to be “politically correct” I have certainly gained an understanding about the prospective that we all have concerning our profession and life in general. It’s not about being right or wrong. But it is about how we have all traveled many different roads that lead us to a common place. I encourage everyone to continue to be true to who you are, keep a compassionate heart, and let your passions for children’s education and well-being guide your decision-making. I really feel like if you are doing something special, you will ruffle some feathers. If everything is always quiet and peaceful around you, you are not doing much.
Congratulation on completing your Master’s program in Early Childhood Studies!