ECEA Statement on Teaching Ferguson, MO with Young Children
The statement below from the Affirmative Action Committee provides links to resources we think will be helpful. In addition, from this special page, you can access a range of further resources to support teaching for equity and social justice in early childhood classrooms.
After watching news reports and reading various articles pertaining to the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, the Early Childhood Education Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English is deeply concerned about the narrative being provided and would like to encourage educators to speak with their students. Children need to be involved in critical thinking and be a part of the conversation that deals with sometimes difficult real life issues that persist as individuals continue to be discriminated against in this country. Classrooms should facilitate these conversations and teachers should not be afraid of discussing race and racism with children.
We encourage teachers and teacher educators to consider the resources that we have provided below. We offer the following articles to better understand the process of how to have meaningful conversations with our students and to share with colleagues and friends. These articles also shed light on the positive work that is currently being done within the Ferguson community by the community members and supporters and provide ways for us to provide financial support.
Why Teachers Can't Ignore Ferguson
Five Ways to Teach About Ferguson
Ferguson Syllabus
Community Support for Ferguson
Race Lessons from Ferguson
How to Teach Kids About Ferguson
Students are Watching Ferguson
For Activists in Training
The statement below from the Affirmative Action Committee provides links to resources we think will be helpful. In addition, from this special page, you can access a range of further resources to support teaching for equity and social justice in early childhood classrooms.
After watching news reports and reading various articles pertaining to the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, the Early Childhood Education Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English is deeply concerned about the narrative being provided and would like to encourage educators to speak with their students. Children need to be involved in critical thinking and be a part of the conversation that deals with sometimes difficult real life issues that persist as individuals continue to be discriminated against in this country. Classrooms should facilitate these conversations and teachers should not be afraid of discussing race and racism with children.
We encourage teachers and teacher educators to consider the resources that we have provided below. We offer the following articles to better understand the process of how to have meaningful conversations with our students and to share with colleagues and friends. These articles also shed light on the positive work that is currently being done within the Ferguson community by the community members and supporters and provide ways for us to provide financial support.
Why Teachers Can't Ignore Ferguson
Five Ways to Teach About Ferguson
Ferguson Syllabus
Community Support for Ferguson
Race Lessons from Ferguson
How to Teach Kids About Ferguson
Students are Watching Ferguson
For Activists in Training