Anti-Bias Education
“PMCCP is a very special place where our child is seen and known. We have been thrilled to find a school that aligns with our values of racial justice and equity, and where our multicultural family feels inherently valued.”
Culturally Relevant / Anti-Bias Education
At PMCCP, we are dedicated to collaboration and communication among the diverse people that make up our community and the communities of children in our care. This includes the families, staff, and our Pike Market community.
PMCCP is a place where differences are acknowledged and celebrated. We value what each child brings to our learning community, and work to reflect each family in our environment and daily rhythm.
Because bias and prejudice harm all children, anti-bias goals are integrated throughout the daily classroom life in ways that are appropriate for each age group.
The 4 Anti-Bias Goals
1
Identity
Teachers will nurture each child’s construction of knowledgeable, confidant, individual personal and social identities.
Children will demonstrate self-awareness, confidence, family pride, and positive social identities.
2
Diversity
Teachers will promote each child’s comfortable, empathetic interaction with people from diverse backgrounds.
Children will express comfort and joy with human diversity, use accurate language for human differences, and form deep, caring connections across all dimensions of human diversity.
3
Justice
Teachers will foster each child’s capacity to critically identify bias and will nurture each child’s empathy for the hurt bias causes.
Children will increasingly recognize unfairness (injustice), have language to describe unfairness, and understand that unfairness hurts.
4
Activism
Teachers will cultivate each child’s ability and confidence to stand up for oneself and for others in the face of bias.
Children will demonstrate a sense of empowerment and the skills to act, with others or alone, against prejudice and/or discriminatory actions.
Derman-Sparks, L. (2020). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Anti-bias work is challenging and requires a commitment from staff and families to examine and confront the biases in ourselves, as well as in our relationships with children.
See our Family Resources page for more information.
