3/14/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Anti -Bias Curriculum While one simply cannot fail to recognize that the anti -bias agenda in the cited volumes is ideological or political in nature, the reviewer's opinion of whether this agenda is an appropriate public policy choice for children is irrelevant to the purposes of the instant presentation. In 1989, NAEYC published And -Rias CWricuhm Tools For F.mpo%ving Young Children now in its seventh printing?' This volume and others seem to advance a so-called "social justice" model where child day care educators are to be activists challenging behaviors, institutions and cultural assumptions that stem from the described white -male dominance of American society.'r The Anti Bias C.w7kulum defines whites as: "All the different national ethnic groups of European origin who as a group are disproportionately represented in the control of the economic, political, and cultural institutions in the United States". The term "anti -bias" is defined as: "An active/activist approach to challenging prejudice, stereotyping, bias, and the 'isms'. In a society in which institutional structures create and maintain sexism, racism, and handicappism, it is not sufficient to be non biased (and also highly unlikely), nor is it sufficient to be an observer. It is necessary for each individual to actively intervene, to challenge and counter the personal and institutional behaviors that perpetuate oppression (Emphasis added)? The Anti -Bias Curriculum argues that homophobia is a form of gender bias that needs to be addressed in the day care setting." Not only must the anti -bias educator of young children be prepared to quell incipient homophobia, he or she must be prepared to address both the gender and sexual differentiations of the sexes for two-year-olds.78 x L Darman -Sparks and the A.B.C. Task Fm=, Anti Bias Carnia+ =, Tools for Empowaw$ Poing Children, NAM, 1989. 75 J. McCradmz, Yalydng Disrrsky. The Prbnwy Yews, NAEYC. 1993. pp. 7-12. " Anti Bias Gantadwa, definitions, p. 3. " Anti Bias Cori ukm pp. 3.4. n Anti Bias Qmiarlmn, pp. 21, 22. 24 March 14, 2000