Examining Codes of Ethics

DEC Code of Ethics

Responsive Family centered Practices:

This section of the code of ethics ensures that all children no matter what language, custom belief, or culture receives the best education there is.  That each professional in the early childhood profession demonstrates respect no matter what color, race, value.  That all children and families are given the right to express their opinions to enhance the quality of life.
    
   2. We shall provide services and supports to children and families in a fair and equitable manner while respecting families' cultures, race, language, socioeconomic status, marital status, and sexual orientation.

As an educator I am constantly faced with children being mean to other children because they are different or their families are different.  I try my best to make sure that every child in my classroom is treated with respect and human decency.  Children learn a lot of things from their first teacher who is usually their mom or dad.  Sometimes we as educators have to help change the mind set of some of these parents so that their children learn to get along with others.  This is very important to me because I have taught my daughter how to love and respect everyone no matter who they were.  My daughter came home one day in tears because some kid in her school made fun of her because she had two moms instead of a traditional family.  It hurt her that other students didn't respect her family, and we as educators have to try and break that horrible cycle of hate.

NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct:

Ethical Responsibilities to children

This section of the code talks about the importance of providing care and education, but also developing programs to help respect individual differences.  To provide the highest learning available to each individual child.

1-1.8--To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities

This is something that is important to me and that I will always continue to strive for because I believe that every child has the right to be able to participate in any activity in school if they are able to.  For far to long some children have been excluded from doing things in school because the school felt the the child was incapable of performing like the other children.  We as educators must step up and fight for the rights of the children to be able to try and participate in activities if they feel they can.

Ethical Responsibilities to colleagues

This section spoke about being able to work well with co-workers and to be able to communicate and share ideas with your co-workers.  It also talked about how important it is for co-workers to be supportive of each other.

1-3a.1--To establish and maintain relationships of respect, trust, confidentiality, collaboration, and cooperation with co-workers.

This is a very hot topic with some people because they feel that what is theirs is theirs and they don't feel that they need to share with anyone.  I believe those days of closing yourself off from co-workers is gone.  We need to communicate more, and share ideas as much as possible because when you are really struggling to get something done, a co-worker may have the right idea for accomplishing their goal a lot quicker.  We need to understand that we need to work together to make sure that every child's needs are met.  Sometimes that requires us to put our pride or feelings aside to do what is best for the child.  This to me is something that I will always do because I wouldn't have a job if it weren't for the children. 

Growing Collection of Resources

Articles

• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• The Early Childhood News. (2008). The Myth of the "Healthy" Preemie. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from The Professional Resource for Teachers and Parents. http://www.asljeeves.com
• The Early Childhood News. (2008). Volunteers in the Classroom. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from The Professional Resource for Teachers and Parents. http://www.asljeeves.com
• The Early Childhood News. (2008). Inviting Family into the Classroom. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from The Professional Resource for Teachers and Parents. http://www.asljeeves.com

Books

1. Big Body Play: Why Boisterous,Vigorous and Very Physical Play Is Essential to Childrens Development and Learning By: Frances M. Carlson
2. Essential Touch: Meeting the Needs of Young Children By: Frances M. Carlson
3. Active For life: Developmetally Appropriate Movement Programs for Young Children By: Stephen Sanders          
 

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Quotes by Marian Wright Edelman
1. " If we don't stand up for the children then we don't stand for much." 
2. " Being considerate of others will take your children further in the future then any college degree."

Quote by Susan Bredekemp
" Children benefit most from teachers who have the skill, knowledge, and judgement to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them."--NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs serving children from birth through Age 8 (2009)

Louise Derman-Sparks
Professor Emeritus
Pacific Oak College, CA
Passion-I had this built in passion that it was important to make a contribution to the world and to fix all of the injustices that existed in the world. She wanted to do that through teaching.  She always liked kids.

Renetta M. Cooper
Program Specialist
Office of Childcare
LA County Chief Administrative Office
It's not all about you, you have to take yourself out of it and think about the child.  You have to care about them enough to help them transition to what comes next, and what's best.

My Personal Childhood Web

Carmen Rosario : Mother
Provider

My mother was a single mother who worked everyday up until I was the age of ten.  She took care of providing shelter, food, love, and affection.  My mother was like my best friend.  When sdhe was home from work, she spent as much time with me as she could.  She encouraged me to do well in school, and to look to do something great in the future.  She didn't want me to end up like her with ten kids and working hard everyday in a factory.  My mother sat with me every night before I went to bed and talked to me about what I wanted to be when I grea up.  She told me that the only person who could keep me from my dreams was me, myself.  My mom taught me how to use my strengths to get ahead in life and to look for the positive things in every situation.

Carmen  Vega: Older Sister
Caregiver
My sister Carmen was the second oldest, but she was in charge of making sure everyone was up dressed, fed and ready for school.  She was the one who walked us to school and made sure we all went to class.  Carmen was the one who picked us up at the end of the school day, walked us home, and started dinner while we sat and did our homework.  She did all of this so that my mother could come home finish dinner, bathe us, check that we did our homework and make sure that my sister Carmen prepared everything for the next day.  My sister Carmen had all of these responsibilities and she was only thirteen.  She always made time to listen to me whenever I had a problem with my brothers.  She always read to me, and took her time to do my hair every morning.  My sister Carmen taught me how to be strong and organized person.

                                                      Antonio Perez: Brother
                                         Protector                                                                                                       
My brother Tony for short was my hero.  He was always there to defend me no matter what the situation.  No one at school would bother me because they knew my brother Tony would crush them.  My brother Tony babied me, and I liked that a lot.  He always walked me to class and carried my books.  He always made sure I had a snack in my backpack for when we had to walk home after school.  My brother Tony always told me that I was smart and that I could do whatever I put my mind to doing.  My brother Tony taught me to make wise decisions, and to not be afraid to stand up for myself.

Martha Rougeux: Youngest Sister
Best Friend
Martha was my youngest sister, but she was also my best Friend.  We were like two peas in a pod.  My sister Martha went with me everywhere I went.  She always said that I was special and that God had good things things ready for me.  Martha and I shared a room, and we use to always talk when we were suppose to be asleep.  She always reminded me that I was very bright and could figure things out without a lot of help.  She always reminded me that God was always watching out for us even when no one else was.  She taught me to have faith even in my darkest hour.  She taught me to be strong even when I felt weak and scared.

Sister Dominguez: Friend and Role Model

Angel

Sister Dominguez was a great lady  who used to come to our house every Sunday morning to take us to chruch.  She would get there really early and help my mom get us ready.  She would keep us all day so that my mom could rest on Sunday to be ready for work on Monday.  Sister Dominguez got me invovled in girl scouts.  She would pay the fees that my mother couldn't pay so that my sister Martha and I could attend girl scouts and go to all of the girl scout activities.  She would take us to the park so that we could have time to play because she knew my mother didn't have time or was too tired from working all week.  Sister dominguez taught me that God puts a desire in our hearts to help others and it is up to us to follow through or not.  She taught me that You can do whatever you set yoour mind to do if you work hard on it.  She also taught me never to give up on my dreams.  It is because of her that I became a teacher.

A Favorite memory

Sister Dominguez would take us to White Castles every once in a while when she had the finances.  It wasn't often, but when she did it was great.  I remember how excited we all got when she took us off the bus at a certain place and we would light up because we knew she was taking us to white Castles to eat small hamburgers.

Hello

Just wanted to say a quick hi to everyone.  This is new and exciting for me.  I hope evryone has a great time in this course and the best of luck to everyone.