Reference no: EM133202769

Problem:

Imagine that you work in a program with another educator. You have seventeen children aged 4-5 years old. Your group consists of primarily white children of European American descent. An East African family recently enrolled in the program, and the child was placed in your room. Although the child and family got off to a good start, you have been having difficulty with the child arriving late every day. The program has a strict policy that every child must come at 9 a.m. when the doors are opened (and closed shortly after that). Punctuality is part of the program's philosophy, and every family is expected to abide by the rules.

One morning you hear the other educator greeting the new family at the door as they arrive late. She asks the mother, who usually brings the child to school, why they are late. The mother, who is looking down, takes a moment to respond and then tells your colleague that they are late because of the start time for class conflicts with their morning prayer time, which is also at 9 a.m. She is apologetic yet asks if there is any way the program can make an exception for her child. She explains that they do not have many resources and would like to stay in the program. She describes how the transition from Africa has been difficult for the child, and she does not want him to have to go through another change.

Next, you overhear the following response from your co-worker:

"I'm sorry, but we can't allow you or any other family to be late. You will have to change your morning prayer time or go to another school where they do prayers. None of the other families have a problem getting here at 9 a.m., and we expect you to be able to do it too!"

Reflect on the above scenario and address the following questions:

• What would you say to your colleague if this happened at your workplace?
• What suggestions might you make to your colleague to help them begin to develop cultural humility?
• How would you support them in starting to provide culturally responsive care and education that honors and meets the needs of today's diverse families?
• In your own experience, how have cultural differences created challenges in your workplace?
• How did you resolve or manage those differences? Looking back, would you do it differently now?