Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Statement

Children live in and move through the same world we do. They live the same experiences we do and we have an obligation to provide the scaffolding, support and education, to help them understand that world fully. We believe that every child deserves an education that allows them to explore themselves and their questions in all iterations. Early education is a critical stage of development as this is when children are first understanding the societal messages they are receiving about themselves, their families and their place in the world.

We believe in working to create an inclusive community that encourages conversations among children and adults about all types of human differences. Discussions may include topics such as: culture, race, language, physical, mental, social-emotional abilities, learning styles, ethnicity, family structure, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, socioeconomic differences, and our many ways of being. We believe in supporting both children and adults to listen to each other with open minds, and to reserve judgment when we encounter views with which we disagree.

An anti-bias approach encourages children to:

• be proud of themselves and their families

• respect a range of human differences

• recognize unfairness and bias

• speak up for what is right

When children learn about similarities and differences in people and communities, they are encouraged to act in ways that reflect anti-bias values and to stand up for things they feel are unfair.