WELCOMING FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

 As we all know as early childhood educators, children come to school with a wild variety of experiences in reading, writing, and other literacy activities at home. Not only do we recognize differences and experiences, respecting them is key for a successful school year. While language is the most obvious differences bridging the gap between our culture should be a primary goal.

                                        BANGLADESH





 In my hometown I have seen that there are man families from Bangladesh. Learning about their culture can help both the families and me work together for their children.  Bangladesh is a country found in Southeast Asia, south of Bay of Bengal and mostly surrounded by India. Bangladesh is a very diverse country in itself. There many indigenous communities and their colorful culture.

     HOLIDAYS

Holidays plays a part of the overall school experience.  A few Bangladesh families do celebrate holidays like Christmas or Halloween. Because of the diversity of families can provide examples of their own unique traditions to which will hell recognize that and helps everyone recognize and respect that holidays not only personally important culturally but meaningful. In order to respect all our families we have a Harvest Ball Celebration. We have a field trip to either go pumpkin picking or apple picking. The curriculum involves many activities related to trees and the season of  Fall. Then we change towards the Winter season with our Winter Gala. The field trip becomes a nature hike and they are introduced to how trees change, the animals that hibernate etc. There is always a struggle with parents who become disappointed because there are no costume parades or Christmas play and if we do allow others get upset.

 MANNERS

Personal space is not as important as ours. Many Bengalis stand very close when speaking with someone of the same gender and touch is common. When you meet someone you say, "Salaam Aley Kum" which means "Peace be with you". In which you reply "Wa Aleykum As-Sallam" which means "Unto you also peace".
 

 FAMILIES

 

Extended families usually live together, and the children, especially the boys are expected to look after their elders. Grandparents are responsible for the children when the parents are away. The Bangladesh society is a male dominated society and are very protective of their female relatives. Women are discouraged from being outside after sunset and usually have a low status in society except for the upper class.


 

EDUCATION               

The education system is divided into 4 levels-- Primary (from grades 1 to 5), Secondary (from grades 6 to 10), Higher Secondary (from grades 11 to 12). The first level of education is comprised of 5 years of formal schooling. The second level of education is comprised of 7 (3+2+2) years of formal schooling. The third stage of education is comprised of 2-6 years of formal schooling (college).

In most slums in Bangladesh, access to education is limited. For those children who do attend school, repetition and drop-out rates are a challenge. Many children here work to support their families.  The biggest challenges is school absenteeism. Sometimes, when the children don’t show up, the teachers go to their homes and talk to their parents

 

Our purpose is to shape how our children see the world and each other. That is to include all the cultures of our students, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of this goal.

Finding innovative ways to embrace all cultures especially those that our society fails to represent is a powerful way for everyone to support children’s learning. This means our focus is to work with parents no matter what culture . And to reach our primary goal: the children.

 References

http://www.discoverybangladesh.com/meetbangladesh/education.html