The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

When ageism was brought up during this course I immediately thought about a situation that I came across working at my last child care center. We had a staff member named Grandma Cookie that used to work and float in every classroom we had in the center for a few hours every day. She was a wonderful retired school teacher in her late 70’s that brought a smile to all the children’s faces. Due to safety issues Grandma Cookie was never left in a classroom by herself and always had a teacher working with her. While she was in the classrooms she would tell the children stories, help with projects, read them books, and most of all gave all the children love and care like they deserved. While I was sitting in my office one day I had a parent come in with a concern she’s been meaning to discuss with me. She proceeded to tell me that Grandma Cookie is too old to be working here, that it’s not safe for her or the children due to her age and does not want her working in her daughter’s classroom. She continued by announcing that she is retired and should be home gardening or knitting blankets. I was so taken back by her comments that at first I didn't know what to say. She also told me that she had been speaking to other parent’s and they feel the same way and that they will be speaking to me as well. I addressed this parent by relaying to her all of the wonderful things Grandma Cookie has done for this school as well as every single child that attends the school. I tried to speak about her age in regards to the fact that she is always working with another teacher and for her safety as well as all others she is not left alone with the children.  I pretty much tried to explain to her that she enjoys her time here and chooses to continue to work with children as she had done for many years prior. She has many years of experience and the teachers love to hear how teaching was for her when she first started and the challenges that she had to face. After spending quite some time trying to get this parent to realize the joy Grandma Cookie brings to the school and the children she works with on a daily basis, she still was adamant in believing she belongs at home and not working anymore.

The question that I had in the back of my mind during this conversation was….Are you saying that all adults who are retired and in their 70’s and 80’s can’t work a part time job and still be involved in the workforce? If there are individuals that believe they cannot work nor shouldn't they quite possibly could be taking away a person’s happiness and drive to get through the day. What I didn't share with the parent because I didn't feel that she needed to know all about Grandma Cookie’s personal life is that she is all alone. Her husband had passed away a few years before and unfortunately she does not have a relationship with her one son anymore, so this was her enjoyment she had in life, working with the children is what kept her going. Why should I take that away from her? Individuals need to realize that older adults still have lives and just like Grandma Cookie she strives on helping others and knowing she can give those children the love they need. There are so many stereotypes against older adults and if we continue to have the view that they are frail and old and should be confined to a house all day, we are depriving adults the chance to be happy. Who are we to decide how senior citizens choose to live the last few years here on earth they have?

This parent and the others that complained about Grandma Cookie are not treating her as an equal. Just because she is older this parent thought she knew what was best for Grandma Cookie and didn't agree with how she chose to live her life. Yes, there may be older individuals that need to be confined to a house because of health issues but there are many more that are independent and choose to be involved in the workforce until their health does get in the way. I do want to mention I did have parents praise me for having employed Grandma Cookie and loved that she is involved in their child’s days at the center. Sometimes it’s Grandma Cookie that is the topic of conversation at many dinner tables, according to a few parents.