EDU40004 Case Study Report: Scenario Analysis and Social Justice

This case study report analyzes a scenario involving a young foreign student, Mathew, facing challenges in a new educational environment. The report examines issues of social justice, inclusion, and cultural diversity, highlighting the importance of creating an equitable and welcoming classroom. The analysis identifies biases and stereotypes within the scenario, offering strategies to support Mathew and his family. These strategies include communication, cultural education, and incorporating play-based learning to promote social justice principles. The report emphasizes the need for educators to address students' needs, challenge stereotypes, and foster an inclusive environment where all children feel valued and respected. Recommendations include communication with parents and guardians, buddy support, and hiring staff who can communicate in the student's native language to facilitate a smooth transition and integration. The goal is to cultivate an environment where all students, regardless of their background, can thrive academically and socially.

Running head: SCENARIO ANALYSIS
SCENARIO ANALYSIS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1SCENARIO ANALYSIS
Executive summary:
In this era of modernization and globalization people of different cultures and
different religious and social beliefs are intermixing together. It is very important that people
from different cultures respect their differences and cooperate in different levels to exist and
live peacefully. Here, in this report different strategies are given to cope up and solve the
problems associated with students who leave their native place to study and settle in a foreign
land. The strategies and recommendations prescribed are based on the given scenario and can
be applicable to any similar situation where a foreign student has trouble associating or
communication with his or her fellow students or teachers.

2SCENARIO ANALYSIS
Table of Contents
Executive summary:...................................................................................................................1
Introduction and analysis...........................................................................................................3
Social justice and inclusion....................................................................................................3
Analysis of the scenario:........................................................................................................3
Approach:...............................................................................................................................4
Strategies....................................................................................................................................4
Evaluation and recommendation................................................................................................6
Reference....................................................................................................................................8

3SCENARIO ANALYSIS
Introduction and analysis
Social justice and inclusion
According to a study, Australia does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity,
religion, creed, color or other factors like that and has laws to maintain equality for all
(Lindon, 2012). The educational goal for the students should include developing equality and
openness for all the cultures so that later they grow up into adults who do not discriminate
people and promote equality. According to a study, this educational goal can be achieved by
the educating children about other cultures and teaching them to respect their difference
(McPherson, 2019).
Analysis of the scenario:
Since Mathew is only five years old and speaks little or no English, it is most likely
that he is not able to mix well with the other children who do not speak or look like him.
According to a study, the aim of the educator should always be to provide a safe place for the
children so that their learning process becomes smooth and progressive (Plummer, 2010).
The scenario suggests that Mathew does not communicate much during group activities and
group work which can be because of three reasons. One being that he is shy and introverted
person who is not comfortable to socialize much, second being that he does not understand
what is being asked of him since he does not understand English and the last reason can be
that he feels very uncomfortable and out of place because of his appearance and language.
He has recently shifted to this place which is very different from his native place and
he needs time to settle and be used to the place and people. Since, he is only four years she
can not make sense of things and needs proper guidance for that. His misconduct in the class
is also a result of him not being able to mix well the class and felling out of place. He should
be given proper attention to because he is in an environment which is alien to him. The fact

4SCENARIO ANALYSIS
that everybody teases him and he has become the trouble maker makes the situation even
worse for him.
Approach:
Childhood is a very sensitive age in any individual’s life and it is very necessary for a
child to get proper guidance, support, parenting and education during this period of time.
Childhood is a very important stage in a person’s life because it shapes a person’s personality
for the later years of his or her life. According to a report it has been found that most of the
people who have had troubled childhood and have grown up to develop psychological
problems (Damasio, 1994).According to a study, social justice means the equal distribution
of the resources and the basic facilities of the society and the government for everybody
regardless of the case, creed, ethnicity, color or religion of a person (Kassin, Fein & Markus,
2013). The element of social justice should be instilled in the children at a young age so that
children understand and respect the each other’s difference. The approach will be such that
would help Mathew understand his situation and calmly deal with his problems. Educator
needs to talk to Mathew and make him feel at home. The educator needs to educate the class
about other cultures especially the culture that Mathew belongs to so that his classmates can
know and understand him better. The approach of the educator to deal with the problem of
Mathew is both family centered as well as child centered.
Strategies
What makes early childhood education so important is that the teachings, lessons or
experiences one has during this period leaves an effective mark on his or her character.
According to a report it has been found that most of the people who have had troubled

5SCENARIO ANALYSIS
childhood and have grown up to develop psychological problems (Lindon, 2012). Therefore
it becomes all the more important that education of a child should be taken great care of.
The issues to be addressed here are the stereotypical thoughts that the teachers held
about the Chinese culture and suggested that it is common for a child to be spoilt by his
grandparents. One of the biggest issues is that the teacher completely disregards the needs
and requirements of the Mathew. Mathew is only four years old and has had to shift from his
native place to a place where everybody speaks a language he does not understand. Instead of
scolding Mathew and being strict with him, the teachers should try to introduce him to the
other class mates and try to educate the other children about the different cultures. According
to a study, the children should know how about social justice and how to inclusive and why it
is so important (Schacte, Gilbert & Wegner, 2011).
The strategy should be to communicate with the children as well as Mathew because
communication is the key to solving all the problems. According to a study, effective
communication is the first step to understand a child’s emotional problems (Schacter, Gilbert
& Wegner, 2011). The communication between Mathew and should be such that he feels
welcome and not out of place. The other children should also be taught to be more inclusive,
understanding and open. The educational goal for the students should include developing
equality and openness for all the cultures so that later they grow up into adults who do not
discriminate people and promote equality. According to a study, this educational goal can be
achieved by the educating children about other cultures and teaching them to respect their
difference (MacNaughton, 2007).
Since the teachers can not be everywhere parents also form an important part of the
learning process of the children. One effective strategy would be to ask the parents of
Mathew to enroll him for English classes in that way he would at least communicate and

6SCENARIO ANALYSIS
understand instructions. Mathew should also be introduced to the Australian culture and
taught se very basic things related to Australian culture and background so that he can mix
well with his classmates. Since all the other students have grouped up against Mathew it is
very important for them to learn concepts of social justice that is to understand that
everybody is equal regardless of their ethnicity, culture, race or any other factor.
The strategy of learning through play will be well applicable for the children of this
age group since they are small and might not understand all the theories given to them.
According to a study, learning through play is one of the best ways to improve their behavior
and promote positive development in them (Unicef Australia, 2016). Since, Mathew feels out
of place and neglected giving him a central position in the play or a group activity will make
him feel important. Incorporating some cultural elements that help break the stereotypical
opinions will also help the children to understand that stereotypical opinions and thinking are
not worth keeping. Including certain Cantonese or mandarin songs for children and some
rhymes is a great way to make Mathew feel welcome.
Evaluation and recommendation
Another strategy would be a buddy support; introducing Mathew to a classmate and
making them sit together and play together will provide Mathew with a support in the class.
According to a study, finding a friend has helped children in maintaining their mental peace
of mind (Foley, 2013). Another way to improve his behavior is to adopt some simple
Cantonese or mandarin while talking to him so that he does not feel out of place rather feels
welcome. Another very helpful strategy would be to talk to higher authorities for the
recruitment of a staff that speaks Cantonese or mandarin. It is important to talk to Mathew’s
family so they implement some strategies at home and to ask them about his behavior at
home. Since, both of his parents are working and he spends most of his time with his

7SCENARIO ANALYSIS
grandparents; it is also very important for the educators to talk to or hold weekly or monthly
meetings with his grandparents.
These strategies will help children be more open to diversity and respectful towards
people of different cultures and religion. It is important to instill elements of social justice
and cultural diversity in the children so that they grow up into becoming individuals of who
are more open and welcoming towards people, cultures and diversity. In the case of Mathew
finding him a buddy for support in the class is a great strategy as it will make him feel
welcome. Communicating with parents and grandparents is a great strategy to know hum
better and also to get some cooperation in his learning process. Hiring a staff who speaks
Mathew’s native tough and using some words from native tough will make him communicate
well. Incorporating these strategies will also make him feel welcome and feel less out of
place.

8SCENARIO ANALYSIS
Reference
Damasio, A. (1994). Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain. New York:
G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Foley, D. (2013). Chapter 7 Indigenous Australia and the education system. In Education,
change and society
Kassin, S., Fein, S. & Markus, H. (2013). Social psychology (9th Edition). Belmont, CA:
Cengage Learning.
Lindon, J. (2012). Equality and inclusion in early childhood (2nd ed). London: Hodder
Education.
Lindon, J. (2012). Equality and Inclusion in Early Childhood : Linking Theory and Practice
(2nd ed.). London: Hodder Education Group.
MacNaughton, G. (2007). Shaping early childhood. Berkshire, England: McGraw-Hill
Education.
McPherson, B. (2019). Social justice? Examining John Rawl's Theory
Plummer, K. (2010). Sociology: The basics. London: Routledge.
Schacter D.L., Gilbert D.T., & Wegner D.M. (2011). Psychology (2nd Edition). New York:
Worth.
Unicef Australia. (2016). Fairness for Children A league table of inequality in child well-
being in rich countries