La Tanga Hardy Celebrated by First 5 LA, Presents on “Getting into Good Trouble”
“La Tanga Hardy (Ed.D. CSUN) is a Faculty Member at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College where she is also the director of the Child Development Center. Currently, Dr. Hardy’s research focuses on “Getting into Good Trouble in Early Education,” exploring ways to move beyond the ‘one size fits all’ approach and create more inclusive, equitable learning environments for our youngest learners.”
Getting into Good Trouble in Early Childhood Education
In early childhood education, it is crucial to move beyond the “one size fits all” approach and advocate for equitable, inclusive, and anti-bias practices. The concept of “Good Trouble,” as championed by figures like John Lewis, calls for taking action to disrupt systems that perpetuate inequality. Within the context of early childhood education, this means challenging the underrepresentation of marginalized groups in gifted programs and their overrepresentation in disciplinary actions and special education. By embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles, we can create environments where every child, regardless of background, has access to the same opportunities for success. It is time to build schools that honor the unique strengths and potential of all children, ensuring that no one is left behind or unjustly labeled. This requires an ongoing commitment to dismantling biases, fostering inclusive classrooms, and advocating for systemic change to build the schools our children truly deserve.
Objectives:
- Understand the importance of moving beyond a “one size fits all” approach in early childhood education and recognize the need for individualized, equitable educational practices.
- Identify the disparities in representation of marginalized groups in gifted programs and their overrepresentation in disciplinary actions and special education, and explore strategies to address these inequities.
- Apply Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles to create inclusive, anti-bias classroom environments that honor the unique strengths and potential of all children.