Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs a Champion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnMTHhKdkw

          The biggest fear I had about becoming a primary school teacher was that when my student’s parents asked them what they learned each day, my students would reply “nothing”. My biggest fear as an early childhood educator is that children might not be intrinsically motivated to learn. Being a daycare worker, having a role in a strongstart program, or teaching a preschool class, I feel that on top of being a caregiver and providing a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment, I also have the responsibility of fostering children’s love of learning and thirst for knowledge.

         As an undergraduate I worked at a 3-5 yr. old centre at the University of British Columbia. On my first day, within the first few minutes as I was being given a tour of the centre, a child swung a shovel like a bat at another child's head. I had a very special bond with that child, but as I was only a student working part-time at the centre I was not privileged to know about the issues that child was going through. I remember one day a nurse came to visit to assess him. Another time, a psychiatrist came to visit to observe him. One of the ECE's at the centre scoffed and told the doctor "He's always better when Christine is around, he's usually way worse" explaining why his behaviour was not as violent. I worked at that centre for a year, and other than my first shift, I never witnessed the child be overly violent or aggressive with any other child or adult. I had heard stories, about how he wouldn't listen and caused trouble, but he never ignored me. I did not have a bias against him, and my tone did not change with him from what I regularly used with other children. I noticed that the other worker's tones were immediately harsher with him.

       Currently, I am teaching a class of 8 Junior Kindergarten students. A co-worker of mine also has 8 students, one of which is more challenging than the rest. It is incredibly difficult for her to maintain her tone with that child when he disrupts the class or hits somebody, but I see the value in maintaining it. As children develop, they attach and create relationships. It is important to always remember that children are not intentionally doing the "bad" thing, and that the way educator's react to their "bad behaviour" can shape the way the child develops. 

       I agree with Rita that every child needs a champion in their corner, who will always fight for that child, no matter what.