Inclusive Summer Camp Culture

Magen's Bay Beach, U.S Virgin Islands

Inclusive Summer Camp Culture

This summer I had the opportunity to work with a local summer camp done through a local church on Magen's Bay beach on the island of St. Thomas. Your probably wondering isn't this normal as a teacher for me to work at a summer camp or with a likewise program; your probably correct as I normally do, but this one was different. This camp was completely inclusive of children regardless of their developmental delays, disabilities, or economic status; simply put it was amazing!

As a mother and teacher I have not seen any programs that encourage and incorporate inclusiveness for all at this level in any setting. All students were given equal opportunities and activities with the option of opting out for an alternate socially motivated activity. The environment was like a utopia rather than a summer camp. Teasing, bullying, and impatience were practically nonexistent ( as most of us know there's always that one or those few that have to ruin a good thing). The most exhilarating thing for me as a teacher and parent was that even in those rare moments when  a moment may arise the youths, adolescents came to the rescue and aid of their peers recognizing that they are all in camp as one group of all of God's children.

Every time I witnessed these glorious acts that made my heart smile I wondered why was it so hard for all children to understand and empathize as these children had and come to a consensus? Why was the world at large so behind, not mention the little ole island of St. Thomas? I came to one conclusion, our culture.

Culture is derived through the experiences of norms and values held within a society and in the Virgin Islands, we have the 'solid as a rock' mentality. We condition our children to be "hard" and tough inadvertently making them unsympathetic and unable to empathize with others.  As adults and parents we are guilty of the same mistakes accusing parents of not "training" their children and that they need "blows" (corporal punishment) when truthfully we just don't believe that everyone and child is different and most of them can't help their actions.

My fellow Virgin Islands, parents, professionals; by brothers and sisters please let us change this part of our culture and recognize the need for empathy in this world for those who need it and the rest that sincerely deserve it. Children and adults with special needs did not make the choice to do things differently; they actually had no choice.


The views expressed within this blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the youths of the U. S Virgin Islands visit https://www.usviearlychildhoodlearning.blogspot.com . For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Curriculum Choices, Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student, V. I Character, and Extra Curricula Activities since IrmaMaria.

Virgin Islands Character; What Once Was

Virgin Islands Character; What Once Was

As a child growing up  in the Virgin Islands I was afforded opportunities to observe the inner workings  social or extra curricula activities within the territory and their benefits. I recognized that all pageants, leagues and institutional organizations all had one thing in common;  they facilitated opportunities for adolescents to obtain and build character building skills which can help them with personal growth. Basketball and baseball leagues valued character. All students had to be in good standing within their various school communities This also provided opportunities f or children without privilege to learn and develop character building traits necessary to become productive members of society. To build habits like punctuality, dressing formal, taking pride in their appearance and work ( school or work whatever that maybe).

Young men once had ample opportunities to build character and integrity, learning the many other ways to earn respect but most importantly they learned respect for themselves. Young girls were too given ample opportunities to learn how to become ladies, and shine equally amongst their adolescent peers through various sports and organizations regardless of gender. Their opportunities facilitated hope for other young girls within the territory as well as illustrated to member of our society the importance of such organizations. But the lack of consideration for many of these character building traits leaves adolescents and parents with a lack of appreciation for these traits and our schools with the ethical dilemmas of how to proceed. Do they bother to solve it at all? How can teachers and administrators within the institution of education help foster skills that should have been introduced and reinforced at home first?

Sincerely, I don’t think they can without meaningful parental involvement and collaboration between families and the school. Calling and texting a teacher is a form of informal communication that can be very beneficial in many areas but it is not enough. Waiting until report cards are issued to buckle down on studies does not work, more importantly my fellow parents making excuses for you child does not work (even if you’re the excuse!). It is time to reteach to our children through role modeling everyday how to be responsible and take responsibility for their actions. Admit that it is your fault and work to find ways to rectify it through collaborating with teachers or the administration; extra credit, or community service does attribute to their academic standing as well as character traits.

Rather than illustrating the ignorance that has become synonymous with our citizens in recent generations. Solidarity and integrity have always been vital components of our culture;  Virgin Islanders lets make it a priority to embrace our own traditions rather than reforming to those of our national neighbors.

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Curriculum Choices, Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student

Curriculum Choices

Curriculum Choices

Curriculum choice largely rely on the pedagogy of administrators and leaders within the community, since these leaders and officials are supposed to represent their communities and respective districts, but they often don’t. Most cases where curriculum choices actually mirror that of the immediate community or citizen of who utilize the schools in which they are implemented are the more affluent communities within our country. Curriculum choices should reflect the needs and views of the citizen which participate in the institution. Special needs, disabilities, culture, developmentally appropriate practices, and collaboration with families/community are all pertinent aspects to consider when making and implementing curriculum choices. While developmentally appropriate practice is necessary and pertinent to all grade levels and learners it is especially pertinent to early learners to provide concrete, foundational skills, and open a regular line of communication to build mutual understanding and consistency for children and parents to progress on. NAEYC states that the curriculum consists of knowledge and skills to be acquired in the educational program as well as the plans for experiences through which children learning can take place, for early learners this comes in the form of routines and experiences that will promote learning and development. Curriculum choices should consider and obtain goals, objectives, and resources that are best known practices. Familiarity with knowledge of skills and milestones across domains attribute to the enhancement of the experiences/ opportunities facilitated within the educational setting. 

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student

Congresswoman’s Daughter Was Victimized; Not Considered in Hacker's Actions

Congresswoman’s Daughter Was Victimized; Not Considered in Hacker's Actions

Normally I try not to blog about things that I feel personally about unless it is pertinent, like issues regarding education and educators within the U. S Virgin Islands and since it is summer I thought I would give myself a much needed break from the dual work that I have chosen to engage in to actually take the time to smell the roses (so to speak) but instead I cannot stop thinking about this ordeal about our delegate to congress and how her private family moments where hacked. I am also too sure that most of the reason why myself, along with others, cannot seem to ignore or let this atrocity die is because every major news outlet in the territory feels the need to update and rewrite articles already published to continually feed the masses. Well here is my major concern that I am sure no one else cares about (or at least seemingly) how do you all think that the child feels?

U. S Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett and her husband

The child that became a political pawn because she was having fun with her parents, something that many children within our territory do not have the comfort of and many of whom will never have those same luxuries; how do you think their child feels. How would you as a child feel after being used in your most vulnerable moments, exploited at such a young age, or do we think that because she is young she will get over it and may not fully understand the implications made? That is possible, but highly implausible as she is completely aware of her surrounding and developmentally progressing appropriately. So I ask again, why do we as a society, as a community, as Pulitzer prize winning newspapers, and editors in chief continually fan this fire and feed it? The negativity that looms over because of this cloud is a little heart wrenching to me because this could have been worse for all concerned including the child had it been deemed that the video was inappropriate and that she needed to be removed from her home, this too could be misconstrued by children as the school year is set to begin soon and we all know how children can be. This is my plea to everyone that has since obtained this video or any of the pictures leaked, delete them and denounce the nonsense that is taking over in our communities. This is not the first straw, I have heard many stories countless other women victimized in the same manner some were as young as teens and if we do not denounce it now it will continually grow. Let’s not wait until this come in the form of a suicide of a teen or young adult that couldn’t bear the pressure from sinister jokes; let us as a community not sit by and watch children become victims for their parent’s cause if we do can you truly say that you and your children will be safe in the next wave of attacks?

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student 

How I Feel About Language Acquisition

My Beliefs Regarding Language Acquisition

I am almost certain that my beliefs about language acquisition are distorted by my own personal experiences, but I am also pretty sure that I am not the only one. During my tenure at Ashford I was afforded many opportunities in the form of resources. These resources have aiding my professional development as well as my personal development with regards to my family. Starting with the pragmatics of language, language attributes to the different theoretical perspectives on language acquisition and the effects of environmental influences on such, the knowledge I've learned as have had the pleasure to apply in my assistive positions have made me an ideal facilitator and advocate of early learning and language development. I have learned from my many afforded literature resources that opinions on this matter come a dime a dozen so I seek to offer a different theoretical perspective, one based on my personal experiences and observations; every child is different and learn or develop in different ways. Oddly it seems simple enough and I am sure I have heard it somewhere before, but it isn't often enough applied. Sure we can say that the child with a speech impairment will grow out of it and doesn't need professional help/ coaching, while another does because of their 'impoverished environment'. During the history of man stereotyping has never gotten us anywhere so why continually apply it to those too young and are incapable of defending themselves? 

What we know for certain is that children are born with the innate capacity to learn language and that the main requirement for doing so is exposure to language and opportunities to use it; we also know that although they are able to overcome physical and environmental challenges to learn language, there appears to be a critical period during which language learning is optimal (Piper,2012). It is certainly time we apply this mantra to every learner and recognize that speech and language disorders will continue to exist regardless of cultural disparities or environmental influences.

References

Piper, T. (2012). Making meaning, making sense: Children’s early language learning. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Ethical Leaders Anyone?

Ethical Leadership Anyone?

U. S Virgin Islands Governor K. Mapp

Ethical leadership involves acting with moral purpose and integrity to do what is right, just, and fair in service of common good; they are genuine with themselves and others, they remain true to who they are and what they stand for (Weiss, 2011). The main characteristics of ethical leadership are authenticity and integrity. Authentic leaders have genuine desires to serve, they know themselves and lead from their values; they understand their purpose, have strong values about doing the right thing in work and in their lives and are passionate about their mission (George with Sims, 2007). Ethical leaders with integrity often illustrates an 'alignment between what one does and what one says; doing and saying should belong to the same whole' (Brown, 2005). Acting with integrity is the same as acting ethically or morally (DeGeorge, 1993). Notable examples of ethical leaders include but aren't limited to the Dalai Lama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi, and Erykah Badu (a notable activist for youth engagement and development through the arts). As I mentioned in discussions, the most influential leader in our territory, the governor, is continuing to lose the confidence of the people and even the Senate committee due to unethical actions continuously arising since he took office in January. His actions have caused many of the nominees selected as commissioners and chairpersons resigning every month as a new scandal of some sort is making headlines again because of the governor lack of ethics. His lack of ethics and those who held the office before him set the precedence for every other aspiring politician within our territory including those who are the most impressionable, the youths.

Outside of our own governor and that he has recently become notable for, many of his cabinet/ administration's members are also under much needed scrutiny for their actions during the short tenure this administration has had. My main concerns are with all being discussed and the spotlights being 'lit' what exactly are these politicians and their aids doing to better serve the needs of the territories educational institutions? I have heard of the many strides made for UVI's medical program and think it great as nursing has become such a common occupation within the territory, but early childhood education is still not being addressed. Too many have to wait until they are of school age (five years old) to attend public school because Head Start programs have waiting lists by years and not enough facilities. 

 This sort of leadership has caused discord among our governments officials, the community at large and has even stopped initiatives and legislations from being practiced due to hardball being played between too much people with power. 

Ethics is generally defined as motivations or actions that are based on ideas of what is      right and wrong, but it also encompasses the values and morals that an individual, society, or       institution deems acceptable and desirable (Weiss, 2011). Leaders who do not encompass the values and morals of the society cannot effectively and authentically lead any majority without first being motivated to do so by similar causes. I think ethical leadership is important because it teaches integrity and culture to followers in turn empowering the masses.  

Weiss, J. W. (2011). An introduction to leadership. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student 

PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved

PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved 

 

As we all settle back into our school routines and many of us create new ones, we begin to look ahead at what the school year will have to offer and wonder. Rather than wondering parents and guardians should get involved through various programs many schools have to offer. Regardless of the age of the child parents should take this opportunity to collaborate with teachers and other parents, role modeling the interest they would like their children to take with school activities as well as setting a culture of learning and collaborating with others. The purpose of these positions themselves are to increase parent involvement and assist administrators in the generating of activities that are relevant to the developmental needs and culture of our students.  

Volunteering is an easy way to get involved in school activities without making too much commitment to future activities or taking away from other personal and professional endeavors. Leading the monthly playground garbage clean up is a great way to collaborate with other parents and teachers with regards to current and future school activities as well as academic concerns; as a matter of fact it may actually be the ideal situation for addressing an academic concern where there are more administrators and key personnel present to address and answer any inquiries. Presenting ideas and concerns in such manner can prove to lighten the situational mood and may serve as an avenue for a parent to receive more support on an idea or concern from other parents (it can also go completely left and have the majority reject your idea/opinion).The overall purpose of the Parent Teacher Association, or PTA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. While not all PTA's require participants to become members in an official capacity, all opinions rendered and concerns/ inquiries made are addressed the same. PTAs and Parent Committee's work directly with administrative and school personnel, as well as other parents to ensure the needs of all children are met through appropriate developmental practices that will best suit the development of the each individual child wholly. There are usually four positions available in any PTA or parent committee; president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The National PTA's website has a listing of resources for PTA's including descriptions of positions available as well as sample of recording technique and documents.   

We do live in a modern world today that leaves many of us very busy, running around trying to fit 12 hours into 8, but our children are important, their education is important and how can we really expect them to love learning if we don't? How can we expect them to celebrate their success as well as get up when they fall to try again if we don't set that example? We can't. We can't teach our children to become productive members of society by sitting idling by, get involved; show your children that you are interested and they will show their interest too!