Education Education Assignment

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Cultural Study Paper (My Ethnocentric Project)

C. Hernandez - Student Example

Post University

CHS252: Social Studies in the Early Childhood Education Classroom

Instructor Jon Oddo

February 2020

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Self- Reflection: Personal History

My family’s country of origin is Trinidad and Tobago located in the West Indies region of

the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago are often noticed as a “boot”

shaped close to Venezuela; we are considered the southernmost Caribbean island. We have about

five generations that have been in the United States. On my mother’s side of her family, her

father was the initiator to bring my mother and four of her eight siblings to the United States.

Later on, my mother and her siblings that arrived in United States brought their mother from

Trinidad to the United States. On my father’s side of family, since my mom arrived in the United

States first, she then brought along my father after marriage. My father was the only one from his

family to move to the United States. The majority of my father’s family resides in Trinidad and

Tobago. My mother had a child from a previous relationship before my dad; my eldest brother

who she left in Trinidad and brought along with my father as well to the United States. Everyone

migrated to the United States to have a better life to be able to provide for families left back in

Trinidad and Tobago and family they established here. Everyone wanted to have a career and

succeed with better education, finances and a better way of living. Languages spoken were

English, but my dad’s family has a Spanish/Chinese ethnicity and my mother has an Indian/Irish

ethnicity. I was taught just English but on both sides my parents can understand and speak in

Spanish, Chinese and Indian.

When everyone first migrated to the United States, they settled in Brooklyn, New York.

Brooklyn, New York is considered the steppingstone in Caribbean culture to first settle then

move to wherever after. Brooklyn, New York is very Caribbean cultured, so it felt like home

away from home for the families. The origin of our names is coming from our mixed background

as stated before, the Spanish, Chinese, Indian and Irish. Two family treasures that represent my

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family’s cultural or ethnic heritage would be gems (gold jewelry) that were passed down from

generations for keepsake in remembrance from our ancestors passed down or from death given to

members in the family.

Another treasure would be a musical instrument called the Steel Pan. This represents our

culture and is a different instrument from the norm that here in America children learn to play in

school or as a hobby. We cherish these things because it reminds us of where we come from,

those left behind and those who have died. Growing up experiences with my family are always

gathering as a big family coming together and enjoying company. We love Soca music playing,

food cooking, playing cards or dominoes and all the adults having their fun and the children

having their own fun. The neighbors who are also from other Caribbean islands would attend as

well and enjoy the festivities because they felt like they were still back in the islands. Neighbors

would always look out for one another no matter what the situation might be through good and

bad times. When it came to babysitting or needing a small favor everyone got along very well. In

school, because the majority of the children were from Caribbean background, we all could

relate in similarities and have differences as well. I would say the children who did not have a

Caribbean background always were interested and wanted to be from the Caribbean whichever

island.

Reflection: Relationships with Others

My personal beliefs about cultural, ethnic, linguistic, religious, economic and political

differences is I respect others’ views regarding these criteria. Everyone is entitled to their own

opinions and visions. I will always listen to others and not judge a person on their beliefs.

Having differences and similarities, I believe that when we all share, we can always collaborate

for the better. Sharing my views and showing some light to a different way from a person’s way

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of thinking to help and encourage others I am always open to do. “Through experience,

observation, and reflection, students will identify elements of culture as well as similarities and

differences among cultural groups across time and place. They will acquire knowledge and

understanding of culture through multiple modes, including fiction and non-fiction, data analysis,

meeting and conversing with peoples of divergent backgrounds, and completing research into the

complexity of various cultural systems” (National Council for the Social Studies, 2013). Taking

a look at the United States of America, the growth and popular country that is well established is

because of the people of diverse backgrounds contributing.

We all have our differences and issues within the country, but the voices of the country always

bring change and we make difference changes within our country. I have philosophies related to

serving others, inclusion versus separate education and educational equity. Serving others in

other words helping others is born in me from a child. I benefited from others throughout my life

for always being there for me and I contribute that same generosity to others. Inclusion versus

separate education and educational equity personally based on adapting to the children’s needs.

Inclusion education is designed instruction and support for students with special supports and

service needs in regular classrooms and community schools. Separate education offers education

in a specific religious denomination or gender related. Educational equity is consisted of

achievement, fairness and opportunity in education no matter of race, religion, gender, disability

etc. To me I feel children can benefit more from educational equity because this will help

children develop the knowledge and skills they need to engage and become productive members

of society. Having this start will lead to better economic and social outcomes.

There are groups of people with whom I know I have to work to develop a relationship such as

not English-speaking groups because of the language barrier. It is harder in regard to

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communication with this groups. This world is full of diverse people who speak different

languages. The fears about potentially working with these children or their families is not being

able to understand and deliver the results they need or want. I want to be able to treat all children

equal regardless of differences. To insure that my work with these children will be successful

that getting the resources that can help me with the language barrier and getting the resources

that can help these children transition better from their norm in the classroom.

Venn Diagram

In my Venn Diagram, I chose a friend who is American culture and compared to my

Trinidadian culture. The similarities that we have are that education is important to us, we enjoy

sports such as soccer, basketball and track and field, both of our culture racial status is something

that is happening in both our countries and how we were brought up. Hierarchy is also something

Food

Music

Language

History

Morals

Education

Sports

Racial Stat

Hierarchy

Religion

Food

Music

Language

History

Morals

Trinidadian American

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that stands out between the two, and we both believe in God or religion is a big thing in both of

our countries. The differences include foods, music, languages, history and morals; they are

completely different between the two of us. The types of food we eat, different genres of music,

the language accent different and variety of different languages. Our history is different and

morals in Caribbean culture that is important to us in regard to my friend it is not so much

important.

Personal Beliefs

“How might my personal history, background and experiences influence my relationships with

children from diverse backgrounds?” My personal history, background and experiences can

influence my relationships with children from diverse background. By showing how much

diversity exists in my Trinidadian country I can show that everyone collaborates and contributes

to our country and in our own family lifestyles. Sharing my experiences that can be similar and

different to the children can give them knowledge and interest to work well with other regardless

of different criteria. We all may look different, but we all have similarities. Children will want to

learn about other cultures and enjoy collaboration.

Teaching Practices: Children from Diverse Backgrounds

How will this information influence my teaching practices? This information from my research

will influence my teaching practices by not secluding children based on cultural differences. Be

open to and not show bias to children and families that are not from my own personal

experiences. I will be sure to accommodate teaching practices to all children to help them be

productive citizens to society.

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References

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: Chapter 2-The Themes of Social Studies.

(2013, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands

Watts, D., Robinson, A. N. R., & Brereton, B. M. (2020, March 1). Trinidad and Tobago.

Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago

.