Lessons to learn from preschoolers

A headline from yesterday’s news caught my eye: “Bias Isn't Just A Police Problem, It's A Preschool Problem.” This immediately took me back to my year living in Cleveland Heights, the multicultural neighborhood east of downtown Cleveland, sandwiched between tony Shaker Heights and crime-ridden East Cleveland. Everyone told me how cool it was that we lived in that melting pot, yet when I sent my son off to kindergarten, I discovered that most of the “accepting” white families had decided that while it might be OK to live in a diverse area, it wasn’t OK to send their children to the diverse schools. So sad. Not once did my children ever remark on being minorities in their preschool or kindergarten classes. If only adults were so colorblind. My poetic chops are not so great on this one, but I hope the message comes through.Here’s the link to the NPR story: http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/28/495488716/bias-isnt-just-a-police-problem-its-a-preschool-problem?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160928.  

Meme from http://www.mememaker.net/meme/oh-so-youre-from-cleveland-heights-you-must-be-extremely-interesting-and-startli/

Colorblind and kind

Twenty-four kindergarteners,Three are white, 21 are not.I can see that,Teachers see that.Little children are colorblind. None of the 24 everSegregate, isolate, stagnate.They are classmates,Comrades, cohorts.Family all of the same mind. Shocking studies have discoveredTeachers – white and black -- have bias.Intentional-- or not, still there.Innocence lost is not so kind. Multicultural neighborhoods,Hip, cool, diverse, unprejudiced,Outsiders say.RealityDoesn’t reflect the perceived signs. White flight now means private schoolingTo save children’s education.Good fences makegood neighbors whenintegration becomes maligned. Teachers, police, politicians --Take a lesson from preschoolersWho just see friends,Companionship,Acceptance of all humankind.