Handout 6: Viewpoints
The purpose of viewpoints is to offer a starting place, something to react to for the discussion. You may find you agree with one of the viewpoints. Or you may think it should be changed in some way, or that a new one could be added. What do you think about each viewpoint? Do any of them support what you were thinking when you read or heard the story?
Viewpoint 1
Geri is creative. She loves to climb and play outdoors. We are trying very hard to help other children welcome her. Their parents don't always understand that, but we are all learning that she has a lot to offer. It isn't always easy accepting her for who she is, but we try everything we can to make sure she participates as much as she can. Over the past month I've seen a lot of progress. The other children are learning to be tolerant and accept her for who she is. I think our hard teamwork is starting to pay off, and it's worth it.
Viewpoint 2
Geri is so sweet. It's really too bad she has so many problems. Her mother is doing the best she can, but you know how things are with those single mothers. I don't think she and her brother even have the same dad. We do everything we can to help. She needs us so very much. She gets confused sometimes, this little one. Like the other day, we had a fire drill. She didn't remember to go to the door, so we just picked her up. Other than that, I don't make any exceptions for her. She has to learn to play by the rules, just like everyone else. I feel sorry for her. She doesn't get very much from home so she needs us.
Viewpoint 3
I don't want to say that having Geri in the program is such a big deal, but it's hard. She doesn't always let you know when she needs something, like to change her diaper. And you can't always stop what you're doing to take care of it. Then there is the behavior. I worry whenever I step out of the classroom. What if Geri hits someone while I'm gone? I'm only one person and it's too much sometimes.
Viewpoint 4
This is not the right place for a kid like Geri. We tried, but it's been hard, because when she gets upset, the biting and tantrums... It puts the other kids in danger, and the staff, too. The other day she tried to bite her teacher. We have so many children with special needs in our program these days it's overwhelming. There are too many, and we aren't stopping to think about what kinds of problems these kids have. How can we possibly meet everyone's needs? What happens to the regular kids when we get so busy with the children with problems? The other children have rights, too.
Viewpoint 5
One of the specialists suggested that Geri might be having some sort of reaction to the food she eats, like an allergy. It seems pretty unusual, but I know it can happen. It takes extra work to be on the lookout for the things we know cause trouble for children, like Mike, he can't tolerate dairy products. What do we do with someone like Geri, though, when we aren't sure what the cause is? We just don't have the time or know enough to figure it out. I know she has rights, but I just don't have the time to figure out how to help her.
Viewpoint 6
Some people think Head Start isn't the place for Geri. Even though she's been in the program for a month, they still don't think of her as one of our kids. I think they are wrong. Maybe they are prejudiced or afraid. I can understand that, but we have to get over our fears and help the other children, too. The bottom line is that there are laws that protect children like Geri. She has as much right to be in this program as any other child.