Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children

From back cover: "Why an anti-bias curriculum? Because children develop biases against people for colors and cultures other than their own, and against people with abilities different from their own, when they are very young. At an early age children have ideas about what boy are 'supposed' to do and what girl 'can't' do. Most of us are uncomfortable seeing these biases develop. It's not enough to teach tolerance. Pretending not to have heard a hurtful remark one child makes to another just isn't enough. Adults must make it dear that it is not OK for a child to say or do unkind things to another person and that, if this happens, the adult will firmly step in. As teachers and parents, we inadvertently teach our own biases. It's important for each of us to examine our possible biases and learn how they may influence children -- and how to reduce, handle, or even eliminate them. It's important to discuss at parent meetings children behavior toward individuals they view as 'different.' How do parents feel about people who are different from themselves? How do parents feel about their children should live with others in classrooms, communities, a country, and a world full of diversity? This practical book shows adults how to stand up for what's right and how to empower children so they can too!"

Louise Derman-Sparks book continues to be a favorite of mine since I first purchased it nearly 18 years ago. As a teacher of young children, I found it invaluable in helping me create a classroom that tangibly respected the diversity of our families (chapter 2, "Creating an Anti-Bias Environment" was especially helpful with this task). When I first came upon the book I was well versed in helping children develop high self-esteem, but this book helped me realize that sometimes that positive identity is based on ethnocentrism or stereotyping. The introduction to the book was most thought provoking! I read "Boys need to learn competence without also learning to feel and act superior to girls"...and "Differences are good; oppressive ideas and behaviors are not." This book helped me move from a multicultural (tourist) approach to a genuinely respectful anti-bias approach to help children affirm and enjoy cultural identities in their community. Chapter 7 "Learning about Cultural Differences and Similarities" is an invaluable resource for planning respectful activities. I encourage all teachers of young children to read and use this most valuable resource.

I was shocked to see the low reviews given this book, and once I read them thought I should chip in my 2 cents to offset the bizarre review previously submitted. This book is a standard for anyone interested in issues around equity and diversity and how the politics of our culture can best be answered and improved through our work with young children. We've known this since LBJ was president and he commissioned the Kerner Report - in order to stop bias and the anger that it causes, we need to start with the youngest among us. I've had this book by my side for the almost 20 years I've worked with children, and consider it to be as crucial and important as Sue Bredecamp's DAP. This is not a book of lies, it's the most honest direct approaches to diversity. And it speaks the truth.

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