Children of Fjrst Generation Ethiopian Immigrant Parents
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CHILDREN OF FJRST GENERATION ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANT PARENTS AT HOME AND AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SE'ITINGS: UNDERSTANDING THEIR EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE PERSPECTNES OF THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS Bizunesh Wubie A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Ontario institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto O Copyright by Bizunesh Wubie 200 1 National Library Bibliothèque nationale l*a ofCanada du Canada Acquisitions and Aoqï!sitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Onawa ON KiA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence ailowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bbiiothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, disûi%uteor seii reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electtonic formats. Ia fonne de microfiche/^ de reproduction sur papier ou suformat électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ai des extraits substantiels may be printed or othenvise de celle-ci ne doivent êîre imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son pe~ssion. autorisation. Children of First Generation Ethiopian Immigrant Parents rit Home and at Early Childhood Education Settings: Understanding their Experiences Through the Perspectives of their Parents and Teachers Bizunesh Wubie, Doctor of Philosophy, 200 1 Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto ABSTRACT More than half of the children in early childhood education settings (ECES) in Toronto come from immigrant families with diverse langages, cultures and racial backgrounds. Yet, little is known about their experiences in their homes and in their ECES. The major purpose of this study was to explore some aspects of the experiences of children of first generation Ethiopian immigrant parents in these two settings, mainly, through the perspectives of their parents and teachers. Qualitative research rnethodology was used to examine the experiences of six children. Their twelve parents and six teachers were interviewed. Observations were conducted in their homes and in their classroorns. The conclusions that emerged frorn the study inciuded: a) the chiidren experïenced intense uneasiness during their transitions from home to ECES; b) based on their transitional experiences from home to ECES, three groups of children were identified: children who cry and screarn the moment they arrive at ECES; children who get excited and play well for the first two or more days and then start crying and screaming; and children who adapt to the situation easily; c) the experiences of the chiidren are influenced by their parents' experiences in their country of origin, Ethiopia, and in their new counuy, Canada; and d) the children's experiences at home and at early chiIdhood education classroom settings (ECECS) are interconnected. The study also discerned these themes: a) children are agents of change in their homes as the result of their experiences in ECES; b) children are bridges connecting home and ECECS and thus enabling parents and teachers to lem from each other; and c) children are cumculum CO-deveIoperscontributing to the promotion of inclusiveness in the curriculum of ECECS. In the process of leming the language of the ECES,English, the children passed through phases: talking in their own home language; uttering strange words; using few words/phrases; assigning the right worddphrases to the right things; and communicating in simple sentences. in conclusion, this study shows that understanding the experiences of children at home and at ECES cm help to facilitate better care and education for young children in general and for children of diverse cultures and Ianguages in particular. There were several people who supported and encouraged me to make this challenging reseach journey a positive leming experiences. Although 1regret for not being abIe to mention their real narnes, my first and deepest gratitude goes to the six Little children, their twelve parents and their six teachers without whose cooperation, experiences and resemoir of knowledge this thesis would not have been possible. I also express my appreciation to the principals and the administrative staff of the six early childhood education settings without whose permission and cooperation I would not have been able to reach the teachers and the children in the classrooms. My second deepest gratitude goes to my academic advisor, Professor Joe Farrell, who, right from the beginning of my graduate work, offered me invaluable advice and instant responses for al1 my quests. Joe 1 sincerely thank you for guiding and dlowing me to follow my line of interest. A special note of thanks goes to my thesis supervisor, Professor George Dei, whose keen interest in my thesis topic, whose trust in me, whose tactful and discipjined guidance and whose readiness to read my work and respond instantly have been a vitai source of energy and academic empowerment during the thesis journey. George, i am particularly thankful for leaving me a space to follow my own path. I am also heavily indebted to my thesis committee members, Professor David Selby, Professor Ardra Cole and Professor Linda Cameron, not only for their constant support and encouragement throughout the thesis work, but aiso for reading and editing the thesis thoroughly and providing me with incisive comments and constructive suggestions. My sincere gratitude aiso goes to my extemal examiner, Professor Judith Bernhard, for her thoughtful and thorough examination of my thesis. 1owe a very specid debt of gratitude to my frîends, Beth Symes md Diane Johnson, Cor making my graduate work and my stay in Canada so hIfilling. Beth, 1 do not think i cmthank you enough for your invaluable insight and time you exerted in editing the first dnft of this thesis. Diane, 1 really thank you so much not only for your continuous friendly support, but also for your precious time in reading chaprers. Beth and Diane, 1 consider myself to be very fortunate and prîvileged to have both of you as friends, My close friends, HaregewoidHagi and Wondimu played a vital role of providing me with constant social and emotional support. Hagi, 1th& you so much for asking me about my days almost everyday. 1 also thank you so much for becoming a inember of my family and for being with me in al1 times of dificulties and happiness. Wondimu, I am really grateful to you for being readily availablt whenever 1 needed your help. 1extend my ,mtitude to my friends, the members of St. Mary Women's Association, where I also belong, for their stirnulating encouragement and sisteriy support. 1thank rny brothers, Abebe Wubie, TekIu Wubie, Hailu Wubie, Yehualashet Wubie and my many nieces and nephews, in Ethiopia and eisewhere, for their great support and unconditional respect for dl my endeavors. A motherly and hedelt thanks goes to my daughters, Hellen Yigzaw, Ejigayehu Reta and my son in-law, Nega Worku, whose love, respect, concem, trust in me and unfailing encouragement sustained me during the whole process of the graduate work. A special Love goes to my three-year-old granddaughter, Abigail, not only for pcacticaliy teaching me about her day-to-day expenence as an infant of first generation Ethiopian immigrant parents, but also for entertaining me either in person or on the telephone whenever 1 needed a break from my thesis work. Abigail, this thesis is for you. Keep it as a reminder of your grandmother as a graduate student. Above dl, 1owe a huge debt of gratitude and tfianks to my husband, Shiferaw Desta, who calmly endured my absence and encouraged me to finish what 1started. 1am extremeIy gratefuI to the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, SSHRC, and the Ontario Graduate Student schoiarship, OGS,for the financiai award they granted me without which this thesis would not have ken maieridized. My gratitude is aiso extended to dl rny professors, colleagues, fellow ,pduate students and administrative staff, at the University of Toronto in generai and at the Ontario hstitute for Studies in Education in particdu, who directIy or indirectly contributed to my graduate work. Finally, 1thank God for sustaining my faith in hirn that keeps me going, TU MY MOTHER, SEMENEMARIAM WOLDEAnIAhrUEL, AND MY BROTHER, GiRMA CWBIE, BOTH OF WHOM PASSED A WAY DURING THE PERIOD OF THIS THESIS WRITING. EMMAAND WONDMGETA, MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE TABLE OF CONTENTS .* ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... 11 ACKNO WLEDGMENT .......................................................................iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE 1. NTRODUCTION.......,....,........+....~................................................ 1 1.1. BEHIND THE THESIS TOPIC: MY PERS ONAL AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY ............................................. 1 1.2. BACKGROUND AND THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................... ,.-..... ...... ..................... 1O 1.3. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY AND THE RESEARCH