February 29, 2016 Open Letter to: Room 112 pm. Class RE: Anti-Bias Education Dear Families, Perry and I recently spoke with a parent who expressed concern about a book that was read during class. I want to take this opportunity to share Montview?s approach to anti-bias education. Worm Loves Worm, by J. J. Austrian, tells the story of two worms who meet, fall in love, and decide to marry. Their friends gather cricket, beetle, bees, and spider and they want to know who will wear the dress and who will wear the tux? The answer is, it doesn?t really matter. Because Worm loves Worm, and love is what matters. We hope you will check out the book for yourselves. - The concern expressed was that this book was not appropriate for preschool children. As early childhood educators, we read a wide variety of stories to children. This is one way to share our diverse world, learn to honor and value others, and begin to teach tolerance for different family structures, culture, language, skin color, and more. It is natural during the preschool years for children to explore differences, including gender roles. As teachers we often see children debate about who will be the mommy and who will be the daddy in dramatic play. Girls try out boy clothes and boys try out girl clothes. This is how they discover who they are. Worm Loves Worm playfully explores gender identity just as we see children do in the classroom. The early childhood years are a perfect time to introduce children to both the differences and similarities among members of their community. Developmentally speaking, by about age 8 children have fairly well established personal values and social mores. By introducing topics of diversity and inclusion at 3, 4, and 5 years of age, children are more inclined to develop tolerance and anti-discriminatory mindsets. These are among our highest goals for children. Today?s children live in a changing world. ?For children to become truly responsible and caring members of a global community in which diverse people cooperate and resolve conflicts without violence and war, the foundation needs to be laid early.? (Anti-Bias Education, Louise Derman- Sparks.) While these topics are sometimes uncomfortable to talk about, we believe at Montview that it is part of our mission and responsibility to teach tolerance and to celebrate our differences. If you have questions or want to know more about anti-bias education, please knock on my door. Also, take a look at your recent Montviews newsletter. it contains a great article submitted by our Inclusion Committee titled ?Inclusive Culture Begins at Home.? It is our differences that enrich our lives. ail/W KI Linda Marrs, Director