Addressing Biased Behavior about Culture, Language, and Economic Class


Consider analyzing specific ways in which to respond to and intervene with young  children when they exhibit prejudice, misconceptions, fear, and/or  rejection of differences with respect to culture, language, and economic  class. You will develop an action plan that sets up opportunities for  children to learn to understand, respect, and embrace differences and  act/interact in unbiased and fair ways. Your action plan will focus on  the four aspects of creating an anti-bias learning community:

  • Positive interactions with children
  • Positive relationships with and among families
  • The visual and material environment
  • Curriculum planning

See the attached form “Creating an Anti-Bias Learning Community: Diversity of Culture, Language, and Economic Class. Plan activities and experiences to  help children expand their understanding of diversity, build respect for  others, and overcome negative and biased feelings, you will complete  this form and ultimately submit it as your application.

Consider the statements below that could reflect the voices of young  children. Choose one of the statements to be the focus of your analysis.

  • “Gabriel is stupid. He doesn’t even speak our language. Why doesn’t he learn English?” (Boy, 6)
  • “Go away! My mom says you’re a lazy Mexican! I’m not playing with you.” (Boy, 5)
  • “You can’t play with us – your clothes are old and ugly.” (Girl, 4)
  • “No, you can’t be the princess because your Daddy doesn’t have a car. You can be the maid.” (Girl 5)

With your selection in mind, begin to  consider activities, discussions, and other techniques you might put  into place to respond to the biases expressed in the statement.

Using  the “Creating an Anti-Bias Learning Community: Diversity of Culture,  Language, and Economic Class” form; record the child’s statement you  selected in the upper right-hand box. Then, for each of the four  anti-bias learning community elements listed on the left-side of the  form, think about at least two action items that will address the  misconceptions and biases revealed in the child’s statement to help all  of children with whom you work develop respect for diversity. Look at Chapter 4 of the course text, and other resources attached