Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review the NAEYC’s Code of Conduct and Statement of Commitment. (Links to an external site.)
You are quickly impressing your lead teacher and director. Your director sees such promise in you that she has asked you to help her prepare for an upcoming staff meeting. Although you are nervous, you are excited for the opportunity, and you truly want to impress them!
The director has been made aware that a few policies are not being enforced or were not made clear. She wants you to help her tackle this issue in the upcoming faculty meeting. You have heard a few people complaining about these specific policies, so you are excited to tackle the project. You hope that your contribution to the faculty meeting can help get everyone on the same page.
As you dig into the policies, you begin to realize that some policies aren’t followed because some staff believe these policies do not benefit the children and do not wish to engage with them. You have an ethical responsibility to your colleagues, children, families, and community to advocate against policies that do not benefit the children, so you must carefully consider these policies before presenting at the staff meeting.
Policy #1: Instruction will not change from student to student. All students are to be treated like equals and instructions will not be modified under any circumstances. Often times in life accommodations aren’t made and we want to set our children up for success.
Policy #2: On water day, each kid must have a pair of water shoes that are rubber bottoms and purchased by the parents. If the child does not have them, they are not allowed to engage with water play and must remain in the classroom while their peers are outside.
Before you write your response, make sure to review Chapter 10 of the Gadzikowski (2013) text, in regard to advocacy and the NAEYC Code of Conduct and Statement of Commitment to be clear on your obligations as an early childhood professional. In your discussion, answer the following questions for both policies individually:
Is this policy ethical? Why or why not?
If it is ethical, how will you get all staff on the same page and begin to enforce the policy? Be specific and consider revising the policy slightly to get more staff “buy in.”
If it is not ethical, how do you plan to be an advocate? Be specific with your step-by-step approach and address who you will contact and what your plan is to bring awareness.
