Week of the Young Child (WOYC)

 

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Child (NAEYC) the “purpose of the WOYC is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs”.  Question:  Are infant and toddler age children being suspended and/or expelled from childcare facilities?  Answer:  Yes.

 

Suspension and/or expulsion of African American preschoolers are 3.6 times than their white age peers.  Research conducted by Walter Gilliam identified three best predictors of preschool expulsion were the three B’s: “boy, Black or big”.  This means teachers are more likely to recommend preschool suspension or expulsion when the child is a Black, boy, or is physically larger than his age peers.  In addition, I attended a webinar where Rosemarie Allen spoke on this topic where she added an additional letter which needs to be included with high level documented percentage data in conjunction with the 3 Bs which is “D”.  The “D” stands for children who have been diagnosed with a or multiple disabilities.  Early childhood educators must use the growth mindset which reinforces them demonstrating to students they can improve their ability(ies) exhibiting behaviors that are culturally appropriate within the community learning environment in all spaces towards positive outcomes with the reduction and/or elimination of suspending or expelling students from program. 

 

Therefore, for this week I want to bring the conversation back to the forefront highlighting for early childhood educators a range of self-reflective cultural discipline actions and practices which can embed into their community learning environment known as the classroom. Embedding these practices will work toward eradicating the cradle to prison pipeline (as coined by the Children’s Defense Fund) of Black students which are the following and NOT listed in order of implication but collectively for best results of inappropriate behaviors deemed noted for suspension and/or expulsion (e.g., physical aggression, destroying property, tantrum behaviors, verbal aggression, noncompliance):

 

1.     Racial discipline gap,

2.     Strength-based model or practices,

3.     Culturally and linguistically responsive teaching,

4.     Character social emotional development model, and

5.     Restorative justice practices or circles

 

In childcare facilities, one may or may not hear or use the terms suspension or expulsion, but the actions implemented with student results are the same.  View the chart below towards expanding knowledge, comprehension and how applied.

 

Words	Descriptions
In school/program suspension	Child is temporally removed from classroom and sent to another class or director’s office
Short term out-of-school/program suspension	Child is sent home for some part of school program where asked to pick up in response to cited behavior
Out-of-school/program suspension	Child is not allowed to return to school for one or more days in response to cited behavior
Expulsion/dismissal	Child is no longer enrolled in program where told “not a good fit” in response to cited behavior

 

A powerful quote by Dr. Rita Pierson is “Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”

 

References:

Dreher, A.  (March 23, 2017).  ‘Big, Black or Boy’ Preschoolers Face Higher Expulsions and Suspensions.  Retrieved at https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/mar/23/big-black-or-boy-preschoolers-face-higher-expulsio/

 

Dweck, C.  (2007).  Mindset:  The new psychology of success. New York, NY: 
     Ballantine Books.