Diversity and Inclusion in Early Childhood Education: A Case Study

This report discusses critical issues related to diversity and inclusion in early childhood education, relevant theories and frameworks, professional statements drawn for the code of ethics, and action plans to solve this problem in school settings.

EDUC 3065 project 1-Case
Study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Part one ...........................................................................................................................................4
Issue related to diversity and inclusion in early childhood..........................................................4
Relevant theory and framework for solving the problem and analysing the issue......................5
Comprehensive professional statements drawn for the code of ethics .......................................6
Action plan or solution which solves this issue at school settings ..............................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Diversity in education means various differences in the classroom. Education is the right of
everyone so everyone should be provided equal and fair education regardless of their colour,
gender, age, religion, caste, race etc. diversity is very important in education field because
students are from different background. So it is important that every child respect other child.
This report will discuss about critical issue relating to diversity and inclusion in childhood.
Further it will analyse conceptual framework to unpack the issue. Statements will get discuss
which are related to code of ethics. This report will also discuss action plans and solution to
solve this problem in school settings.
MAIN BODY
Part one
Issue related to diversity and inclusion in early childhood
In early childhood education diversity and inclusion go hand in hand. Children who goes to
school in their early childhood comes from different social, cultural groups. Background of every
children is different. Every child has different religion, speak different language, gender and
have different learning abilities (Hodge, Lieberman and Murata, 2017). It is found that in schools
discrimination is done on the basis of religion. There are many cases which will tell that children
are discriminated and treated differently according to their religion. Often it is observed that
children which belongs to majority community are treated nicely as compared to those children
which belongs to the minority community. It has seen that religious discrimination occurs more
in childhood than adolescence. When discrimination is done on the basis of religion or any basis
then it can affect children in adverse manner. There are some cases when parents have asked
their children to not communicate with children which belongs to particular community. So it
can be said that discrimination comes from home and at school. There have been many cases
where it is seen that children are bullied in their school on the basis of religion. If child will got
bullied in their early age then he or she will stop going to school. This can adversely affecting
their childhood.
Children who are getting bullied at their school their social well being is getting affected. If
school does not solve this issue of bullying on the basis of religion then there are several civil
laws for this (O'Brien and Braham, 2021). Parents can file complaint about this problem. As per

the religious belief children wear visible symbol like Muslim girls wear hijab or Jewish boys
wear yarnmulkes. In the basis of visible symbol also children got bullied and those children have
forcefully removed these symbol because of constant bully. It is important for schools to take
necessary actions to stop such bullying. Educators must be aware of the policies so that they can
take strict actions against those students who bully other students. Schools and societies should
work on such issues and protect children against the bullying behaviour. Safe and supportive
school environment will help in preventing constant bullying. Students should feel safe
everywhere whether it is school classroom, school bus, playground etc as bullying in any context
is not acceptable.
The school environment is set by adults which involves teachers, school staff etc. so it is required
that school send good message of inclusion and should enhance diversity. When children will
observe that around them adults are not discriminating against religion then they will also stop
bullying children on the basis of religion. So it is required that schools should have provided
training to their teachers so that they can help children to respect and appreciate other culture as
well. Every child have freedom of religion and it is given to them in every country. Children and
young adults are facing high degree of discrimination because of religion in educational settings.
In the schools children should be taught that every religion is equal and they should not be
discriminated. Schools should have also added such chapters in the books where teachers teach
about the equality of religion. It is very important that from childhood only children should have
teach about religion so that they respect every religion when they grow up (Smith, 2019).
Relevant theory and framework for solving the problem and analysing the issue.
Religion is understood as the tradition and it comprises of myths, practices, scripture, moral
codes etc. so religion have characteristics of spiritual and material properties. In schooling
religion have political and social mandate. Religion and schooling is dependent on philosophical,
political, social contexts for their validation. As the contexts changes with time and not remain
same and so the relationship between religion and schooling also changes. So the relationship
between school and religion is dynamic. Therefore it can be said that education plays vital role in
solving the issues related to religion. Issues related to religion is constantly increasing
everywhere so if in schools children will get proper education and understanding about religion
then they will not discriminate. It is said that the relationship between school and religion can
foster and hinder cultural diversity and social cohesion.

Differentiated schooling which is the framework or theory to solve this issue. This framework
will be explaining changes in the role of religion in schools. This is the multi level framework
which shows the relationship between schools and religion is conceptualised into educational
concepts. This framework is the three level concept which will provide detail understanding of
the relationship between religion and schooling (Simonsen and Shim, 2019). The name of the
concept is Goertz's three level concept. In this three level concept the base level is considered as
the most primary level. This is the level from where the concept has got abstracted. At the
primary level it is shows that religious discrimination is the big issue and there is requirement to
solve such issues. Primary level will show the detailed problems which is arising because of
discrimination on the basis of religion in schools. Then comes to secondary level.
This level will tells the feature of differentiated schooling within its ontological properties. At
this level the rate of stress is identified. Often when children are discriminated on any basis they
tend to take high stress. They started believing that they are not fit for this community. At the
third level the issue is considered as severe and actions are taken to solve it. At this level
theoretical analysis is drawn and now it is the time for practical implementation. This is the three
level concept which explains compromise within context and theory. In order to explain social
justice to the children it is important that schools should uses these framework so that
discrimination can be minimized. This model will also helps schools to identify the root cause of
the issue so that necessary steps can be taken to reduce such problem from the society.
Comprehensive professional statements drawn for the code of ethics
The code of ethics which is published by National association for Education of Young children
(Child Care Ethics., 2020). As per this code of ethics every children is unique and their
childhood is precious and is the growing stage for every children. So it is the responsibility of
educator that they give healthy and safe setting to every children. As per this code educator
should have create self awareness and also build resilience amongst the children (Hamir and
Gozik, 2018). Childhood is the initial stage so it is very important to teach about the code of
ethics to the children at initial stage only. First statement is be inclusive, I believe that every
background and identities should be welcomed. Children should not get discriminated on the
basis of religion, gender, age, colour, race, caste etc. there have been several cases where
children have stopped going to school because they have faced religions discrimination. Often it

is seen that on the basis of religion children have stated bullying other children. Such practice of
bullying can destroy the future of children.
Children are precious and they are the future of every country. So it is important and mandatory
for schools to follow code of ethics and also take strict actions against such children who are
bullying other child on the basis of their religion. Constant bullying can even cause mental
problems within children. There are many cases which has stated that children who got bullied in
schools went into depression or any other mental illness. So it can be said that bullying which
often looks normal to some people can cause major losses.
Second statement is be respectful, although at everything everybody will not agree but it is
essential that respect must be maintained. Disagreement cannot be considered as an excuse for
the disrespectful behaviour. Every one has to go with frustration in their life span but to do
personal attacks out of frustration is not acceptable. School should be have such environment
where children feel good. While school should not have such environment where children feels
uncomfortable because this way they will not be creative (Tobon, Budde and Rohrbaugh, 2019).
When children went through bullying on the basis of religion then they started feeling that people
are not giving respect to their religion and also to them. Respect is the basic thing and also it is
the right of everyone. I believe that teachers should have taught children that they should give
respect to each and every religion. As every religion is equal and no religion should be treated
badly.
Action plan or solution which solves this issue at school settings
There should be such school policies which should promote diversity and social justice. Bullying
in schools on religion basis is common so school should have taken strict actions. Framing
policies to solve this issue is the best way to minimize such problems. It has observed that
bullying is not limited to verbal but it has now converted into physical violence. Children who
are bullying other children have started doing physical violence with them. Implementing such
policies which are against discrimination will help in stopping such problems (Fradella, 2018).
To stop such practices teachers should have provided formal training and school should have
also run such program. Nowadays running campaign has become famous way to publicize the
issue. School can also run campaign which shows that discrimination is very bad on religion
basis and now it will not be tolerated in any case. Campaigning is the powerful action which
every school must take whose children are facing religion related discrimination.

Second solution is in their course book also school can add chapter which teach equality to the
students. In the chapter detailed information should be provided which will give proper
knowledge and understanding to the students. When students see that it is written in books then
they will stop doing such activities like bullying other children on religion basis. In coursebook
children should be taught about various religion and their beliefs (Roberts, 2020). They should
have also taught the importance of equality. Children often don't understand the true meaning of
equality. So it is they duty of teachers that they guide their children about equality so that such
practices can be minimized.
Conclusion
Through this report it can be concluded that diversity and social justice is very important. In
early childhood children are facing discrimination on the basis of religion. Children are
complaining that they are bullied by other children in their classroom because they are of
different religion. It is often observed that religion who is in majority are bullying minority
religion. Report has also evaluated differentiated schooling theory. Schooling and religion have
direct relationship. School can apply this framework to get rid from this issue. As per the code of
ethics every religion must be treated respectfully. No one have the right to bully anyone on the
basis of religion. In order to resolve this issue schools can implement such policies in which they
take strict actions against those children who bully other children on their religion. Children who
wear their religious symbol are also getting bullied at their schools. So it is high time that schools
must take strict actions against such activities.

REFERENCES
Book and Journal
Fradella, H.F., 2018. Supporting strategies for equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher
education faculty hiring. In Diversity and inclusion in higher education and societal
contexts (pp. 119-151). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Hamir, H.B. and Gozik, N., 2018. Promoting inclusion in education abroad. Sterling, VA:
Stylus.
Hodge, S.R., Lieberman, L.J. and Murata, N.M., 2017. Essentials of teaching adapted physical
education: Diversity, culture, and inclusion. Routledge.
O'Brien, T. and Braham, A., 2021. Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education: Two Case
Examples. TR News. (333).
Roberts, L.W., 2020. Belonging, respectful inclusion, and diversity in medical
education. Academic Medicine. 95(5). pp.661-664.
Simonsen, K.A. and Shim, R.S., 2019. Embracing diversity and inclusion in psychiatry
leadership. Psychiatric Clinics. 42(3). pp.463-471.
Smith, D., 2019. Making Diversity Matter: Inclusion is the Key. Intersections. 2019(50). p.4.
Tobon, A.L., Budde, K.S. and Rohrbaugh, R.M., 2019. A novel approach to fostering diversity
in graduate medical education: chief residents for diversity and inclusion. Academic
Psychiatry. 43(3). pp.344-345.
Online
Child Care Ethics., 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.childfun.com/articles/providers/child-care-ethics/>