Culture Building 
and Our Path to a More Just Society

“We are part of an ongoing story of [people], ideals intact, who realize that history can be
changed, and that it is changed starting with the future of children.”
- Loris Malaguzzi, co-founder of the Reggio Emilia School

Here at Park West we see early childhood education as a pathway to a more just society.  Informed by Social Constructivism and the Reggio Emilia approach, core elements of our curriculum naturally support the parent resources we offer below. These resources can help you and your child approach equity and inclusion, including opening conversations with kids about similarities and differences, modeling and supporting children in perspective taking, and developing authentic empathy that is rooted in understanding and internal motivation. Each of these concepts are the initial building blocks of social justice education that centers developing a vision and taking action toward systemic equity.  

While we are committed to this work, we are also committed to not overstating our successes. We acknowledge there is much work to be done and this is not a project that will have a conclusion. We do not claim to be experts, but rather are learners and conveners of a community with robust skills and resources to together build a more just school.

Resources for parents

It can be challenging to know how to talk with children about topics like race, class, gender, and body differences. Here are some resources to aid you in these conversations. Please know that at Park West our staff are always available to talk through strategies with parents when these topics come up. 

Occasionally the desire by parents may be to avoid these topics or change the subject when children raise curiosities. What we know is that children learn about these topics either way, through direct and supportive communication from adults they trust or from the unspoken messages they observe. We are here to help you ensure your children are receiving age appropriate messages rooted in best practice and with a commitment to fostering the development of empathetic, engaged, and thoughtful children. 

Resources:

• 7 Things To Do When Your Kid Points Out Someone's Differences by Rachel Garlinghouse

• 6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children by Bree Ervin

• How to Talk to Little Girls by Lisa Bloom

• It’s Okay to Be Neither by Melissa Bollow Tempel

• My Son Wears Dresses, Get Over It by Matt Duron

• Talking Race with Young Children NRP + Sesame Workshop

• Addressing Racial Injustice with Young Children Embracing Race

• Raising Race-Conscious Children by Joanna Goddard

“They’re Not Too Young to Talk about Race”

From Neighborhood Parents Network (NPN):
Preschool: What Does a Socially Conscious Curriculum look like in Early Childhood?

According to NAYEC (National Association for the Education of Young Children),  Early childhood education settings are often among children’s first communities outside of the home. "Schools should be environments in which children learn that they are valued by others, learn how to treat others with fairness and respect, and learn how to embrace human differences rather than ignore or fear them." 

Learn about what Early Childhood programs are doing in the classroom to offer developmentally appropriate curriculum to cultivate Socially Conscious Communities.

Thank you to our Supporting Sponsor: Park West Co-Op Nursery School

Panelists Include Representatives from:
Park West Co-Op Nursery School
Bennett Day School

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Park West Co-op’s commitment to diversity informs its approach to admissions and hiring; its support of financial assistance to families of varying socioeconomic means; and its belief in the importance of developing the school’s curriculum, community and culture in ways that connect our students’ experiences with our broader society and with the wider world. As both an organization and a community, Park West Co-op has and will always stand on the side of justice and equality for everyone.  

In harmony with these convictions, we are committed to the following:

1. To be a school where everyone is respected and valued and demonstrates the same respect toward others.

2. To recruit and retain outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators from a variety of backgrounds.  

3. To enroll students through a blind lottery to provide equity of opportunity, ensuring that all students can learn, grow, and thrive at Park West Co-op.

4. To advance our individual growth by working to connect with and understand others, especially those whose backgrounds, voices, or viewpoints differ from our own. To be courageous in the pursuit of justice in our community and in the world.