Anti-Bias and Inclusive Early Education Policy, Practice, and Perspectives in Cross-National Contexts

Session Type: Workshop

Abstract

This interactive workshop brings together six scholars from three continents with extensive related experience, sharing policy, practice, and perspectives on the theme of anti-bias education (ABE) in early childhood education (ECE) contexts. Each presenter will shed light on theoretical approaches to understanding how race, culture, and gender influence not only children’s and teachers’ experiences, but also critical policy analysis. Issues such as how research on ABE can inform classroom and professional development practice and policy, the range of anti-bias policies and practices across three continents, the challenges and opportunities that implementing anti-bias education present, and children’s and teacher’s perspectives surrounding ABE – specifically anti-racist and anti-sexist classroom practices - will be shared and discussed in this interactive and participatory session.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Critical Perspectives on Early Childhood Education

Chair

• Beth Blue Swadener, Arizona State University

Participant

• Marianne N. Bloch, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Papers

• From "Closing the Gap" to an Ethics of Affirmation: Repositioning Early Childhood Research and Policy - Mathias Urban, Roehampton University

• Anti-Bias Work and Conceptual (Mis)Understandings: Lessons From a Preschool Initiative for Minority Groups in Ireland - Colette Murray, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown

• Integrating Racial Equity in U.S. Early Childhood Professional Development: Case for an Enhanced Research Agenda - Eva Marie Shivers, Indigo Cultural Center, Inc.

• Teaching Young Children to Be Inclusion Activists and Upstanders - Mara Sapon-Shevin, Syracuse University

• Gendered Spaces: Anti-Bias Work in the Australian Early Childhood Classroom - Kylie Smith, University of Melbourne

• Anti-Bias Education in Action in Two Preschool Settings in the United States - Flora Farago, Arizona State University