Anti-bias curriculum

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The anti-bias curriculum, in education, is an active/activist approach that proponents claim challenges forms of prejudice such as racism, sexism, ableism/disablism, ageism, homophobia, and other –isms.

The objective of this approach to teaching is to eliminate bias that proponents claim is found in various institutions. This approach attempts to provide children with a solid understanding of social problems and issues while equipping them with strategies to combat bias and improve social conditions for all.

The anti-bias curriculum is seen by its proponents as a catalyst in the critical analysis of various social conditions. It is implemented as a proactive means to eradicate various forms of social oppression with the ultimate goal of social justice in mind.

"Anti-bias education takes an active, problem solving approach that is integrated into all aspects of an existing curriculum and a school’s environment"^[1]

Advocates claim there are two parts to an educational curriculum:^{[citation needed]}

• The "formal curriculum" consists of the educational content, expectations, course materials (e.g. textbooks), evaluation, and instruction.
• The "hidden curriculum" encompasses all the values passed on by teachers and educators, and from the school or educational milieu (i.e. the culture of the educational setting). For instance, the hidden curriculum teaches children and students about punctuality amongst other things and transmits dominant culture (e.g. chosen holiday celebration, monetary norms, manners).

Anti-bias curriculum advocates claim that varying degrees and layers of oppression exist in educational institutions.^{[citation needed]} Advocates claim that biased curricula perpetuate oppression through socialization, and have a negative impact on interpersonal networking and acquisition of skills and knowledge.^{[citation needed]} The anti-bias approach urges educators to be aware of these social limitations and to eliminate them. The anti-bias approach is intended to teach children about acceptance, tolerance and respect; to critically analyze what they are taught; and that there are connections between ethnicity, gender, religion, and social class, and power, privilege, prestige, and opportunity.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Implementation

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Strategies for implementation can be found in publications such as Derman-Sparks (1989).

[edit] Criticism

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[edit] See also

• Bias
• Prejudice
• Discrimination
• Reverse discrimination
• Racial discrimination
• Institutional racism
• Environmental racism
• Racial profiling
• Triple oppression
• Eurocentrism
• Teaching for social justice

[edit] Pioneers in activism and education

• Paulo Freire
• Henry Giroux
• bell hooks
• Jonathan Kozol
• Jiddu Krishnamurti

[edit] Educating and teaching children

• Early Childhood Education
• Pedagogy
• Critical pedagogy
• Philosophy of education

[edit] External links

Please help improve this article by trimming this section, which has grown too large or lost focus. Further information might be found on the talk page. Please remove this message once the section has been expanded.

• Early Years Equality
• Work Group Against Racism in Children's Resources
• Letterbox Library Equality and Diversity in Children's Literature
• Positive Identity Multicultural Resources for Children
• Multicultural Lesson Plans from Awesome Library
• Breaking Down the Walls
• Media Activities and Good Ideas by, with and for Children
• Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connections (IECC): This site aids teachers to connect with other teachers in arranging intercultural e-mail connections between their students.
• Meaningful Student Involvement: Students as Partners in School Change
• Article: Culture in the Classroom
• Close the Book on Hate: 101 Ways to Combat Prejudice
• Guidelines for Challenging Racism and other forms of Oppression
• Are Equalities an Issue? Finding Out What Children Think
• Unit on Anti-Bias Curriculum
• Workshops on Anti-Bias Curriculum, Multi-Culturalism, Diversity, Social Justice, & Institutional Change
• Article: Dark, Dark and Darker: Negotiations of Identity in an Early Childhood Setting
• What Is Anti–Discriminatory Education?
• Article: A New Generation Confronts Racism
• Interaction Publication of the Canadian Childcare Federation - Article: Four Steps to an Anti-Bias Playroom
• Article: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.adl.org/tools_teachers/tip_antibias_ed.asp

Anti-Defamation League. (1999). What is Anti-Bias Education?. Retrieved on November 6, 2004, from http://www.adl.org/tools_teachers/tip_antibias_ed.asp

Biles, B. (1994). Activities that Promote Racial and Cultural Awareness. Retrieved November 6, 2004, from Family Child Care Connections, 4(3)  : http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/CHLDCARE.PDF

Derman-Sparks, L. (1989). "Creating an Anti-Bias Environment" Chapter 2, in Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children. New York, NY: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Derman-Sparks, L. & Hohensee, J.B. (1992). Implementing an Anti-Bias Curriculum in Early Childhood Classrooms. Retrieved November 6, 2004, from ERIC/EECE Digest: http://www.ericdigests.org/1992-1/early.htm

Riehl, P.(1993). Five ways to analyze classrooms for an anti-bias approach. Retrieved November 6, 2004, from the National Network for Child Care (NNCC): http://www.nncc.org/Diversity/sac26_anti-bias.analyz.html