CONSEQUENCES OF STRESS ON CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT

A stress factor for me as a child was racism.  Growing up in a Small southern town, I had to endure a lot of racism.  I remember being a little girl in elementary school and been told that school was closing early because a fight was going on between the white and black children.  This was stressful for me because as children you don't see the difference, you play with someone because they are your friend not because they look like or different then you.  So as I grew older I realize that Sally and I might have been friends at school but when the school doors closed we were two different people with two different backgrounds.  OUR parents did not support the idea of us being friends because when they were growing up Blacks played with Blacks and Whites played with Whites.  It's funny how racism is something that is learned and people can't understand that if we stop teaching it then it will disappear and then people can be accepted and acknowledge by the content of their character and not their skin. 

In a small town where most of the teachers are not the same color as you are.  Some favoritism is shown.  I know, I experienced it first hand.  I remember having the highest grade in a course but the teacher did not want me to have the award so she marked one of my answers wrong, but me being me knew that my answer was right kept asking the teacher about  the grade. Well after the award ceremony, of course my grade was changed, but it was to late.  She couldn't take the award back from "S" that would be embarrassing and it would be acknowledging that she made a mistake.  SO "S" kept the award and I got a "sorry, everybody makes mistakes sometimes," speech.  Thanks for having parents who always pushed me to be the best that I could be, because they went to the principal, super indent, and the school board members to make sure that I got the award that I worked hard for. 

Dealing with this type of racism has helped me to be a better educator and to make sure that all children feels worthy and capable of doing anything by not showing favoritism but encouraging all students to do their best.

When I think about  my experience with racism, I often wonder how the Jews must have felt when Hitler wanted all people to be blue eyes and blond hair.  Difference makes the world unique and therefore beautiful.

CHILD BIRTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH

As an educator, the mental health of the mother, father, and families in general is very important to me. The parents mental state effects the outcome of the child.  It is our job to make sure that our students are receiving the most adequate care that they need as children to be healthy and educated adults.  Most of the time we make assumptions about children who's parents mental state is not the same as ours.  We assume that the child will inherit a mental disorder or we assume that the child will not be taken care of as childrens whose parents do not have any problems.  It is our duty to make sure that the environment in which our students live is one that is safe and nurturing, and if we see that the child's parent mental state is stopping the child from receiving the care that they need then we as educators must offer some type of help.  Now this is just my opinion as to what an effective educator should and would do.
Erica Hines

CHILDBIRTH

I remember the birth of my 18 year old and 13 year old like it was yesterday.  The birth of my first child was not as bad as the birth of my second child.  I was prepared for both by receiving prenatal visit, taking parenting classes, and listen to horrible stories about birth from other people.  The horrible stories helped me to prepare myself mentally for the challenge I was about to endure.  I remember reading to my unborn child like the researchers adviced in their books.  I talked to my children while they were in the wound. 

With the birth of my first child, I remember going to the hospital way to early because my family said that my water had broke and the baby would soon be here (boy was they wrong).  I went to the the hospital on June 26, 2003 at 10:00p.m. and Taylor was born June 27, 2003 at 7:07 p.m.  The only thing I can remember thinking about is I will be glad when I have this baby so I can eat a quarter pounder with cheese from McDonald.  The experiences of giving birth were both different and beautiful.  It is so hard to put in words.

When comparing childbirth with that of the women of China, I realize that we practice some of the same cultures or beliefs.  I know that my mother required me to stay in the house from four to six weeks.  The Chinese also practice this as well.  I would eat alot of eggs and food high in protein and iron because according to my mother you lose a lot of blood during child birth.  In my research I notice that this is also a practice of the Chinese women.  In reality childbirth practices are similar in every country or cultural.

Erica Hines