ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

My biggest shock with working in a quality preschool program is how some preschool teachers deal with bullies. They tell the victim to go over there and hit the bully back. I've witnessed these types of interactions while out on the playground. The child will say, "Teacher! He hit me when I tried to climb up on the jungle gym! He didn't want me up there with him so he hit me!" The teacher will say, "He can't be doing that to you. You go over and hit him back. Then you'll be even." I've seen this and heard these types of interactions dozens of times in the last couple of years. It's terrible that some of the preschool teachers believe in revenge and settling scores with violence. No wonder some of the worst bullies in Kindergarten are children who attended a preschool.

The article is true, but missing a few "facts". It always seems that we the "owner/operators" of child care facilities are just raking in the money at the expense of our teachers and ultimately of our children. But if you've ever tried to maintain a high quality Center - you would know that the costs are prohibative! First of all you are considered pretty lowly human beings if you a a "for profit" business - everything automatically costs you MORE!! Insurance, taxes, and the cost of goods/gas/transportation equipment, maintenance & upkeep, licenses & permits, and then you have more and more strenuous regulation required with little or no thought to cost - all of which have to passed on to our clientele. Those of us who try to help out by allowing CCMS families at our Center's - suffer with very low reimbursment rates - far below what it actually costs to care for, nurture, feed and teach a child for 12 hours a day! And then you have the school districts going into direct competition with those they levy taxes on! They make it as hard as they can on us - giving us a 20 minute window of time to pick up children after school - in an enormous district - causing us to have to send out more buses or serve fewer children. They are able to charge less because they don't have transportation costs, are able to advertise their services at the schools (we are not!), etc. etc. etc. As an owner, I have never taken a salary - and poured every "extra" cent back into my school. My teachers are the best - personal income is not what keeps them doing what they do - it's something in their heart that only God can provide. No one would be happier than I if I could pay my teachers more - and do more for them. But until the "government" sees that we are worthy - and tie incentives instead of punishment to those of us who do superior work inspite of the negatives we have to deal with, I'm afraid the way of quality child care will continue to suffer - but as far as "lowly" child care wokers are concerned - they are also some of the best teachers of young children there are!

After 11 years, our's is still a "small child care group home", ie, under 10. We are comfortable with six 2 & 3 year old's. Our childrens parents are mainly self-pay, non DES. 60 hour plus weeks are normal. Filled with love, understanding and future directions for all these children. Yeah, financese are important. Yet, how can one ignor our kids love and the parents thanks? The children have learned, we have learned and God welling we will continue to make a difference in their future life's.

I do my job because I love to help children. If I had to support myself alone there is no way I could do it.

So as parents climb the corporate ladder their tuition is actually an investment since no one has to stay home "to raise the kids." When they reach school age they are cared for virtually for free.

Sick or healthy the children are delivered to our door each day to be cherished and nurtured.

It's a lowly job, but honorable. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

I would guess roofers make more....as do pet care and dog walkers make more than those who teach our youngest children, except that is for the very wealthy who hire whomever they wish.

I find the area of staff salaries to be one of the most frustrating topics with which to deal as a director. Day After day, I see staff putting themselves out there totally for their children with little financial reward. Often staff supplements materials with items they have purchased themselves.
There have been no raises since the final minimum wage increase because there is no money with which to give these raises. Tuition costs can not be increased as our parents are struggling as it is to meet their financial responsibilities. The State has no money with which to fund low income families. It is a miracle that staff remains and for that I am so grateful. At a time when much more is being demanded of all of us in early childhood education to meet government based norms, it bothers me tremendously that we can not afford to do better for our staff.

I work with a Non Profit company that provides grants and loans to child care centers. They require that a percentage of the children in the child care center be from family's that are at or below the poverty line. I was starting work with a center in an affluent suburb of Philadelphia and asked if they had children from poor families. The reply was that the only poverty level children in the center were the children of their staff. I guess that says it all.

Perhaps, if publications like the Wall Street Journal, and other "prominent" newspapers, as well as other media, continue to publish articles such as this one, the overall status of child care professionals will change.

Perhaps if more woman and men in policy making areas would finally "get it" and show the courage of taking a stand regarding the tremendous benefit of putting public and private funds towards children's overall health and development i.e. early education and care, (instead of a fancy new cafeteria at work, or huge bonuses for a few executives, or "fact finding" travel for goverment officials, or....I could go on and on), perhaps then we will see and reap the huge "rewards" of a society that FINALLY values children.

Perhaps......

Furthermore, have you ever considered the costs that a child care provider must incur? Art supplies, meals for 8 at breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks (parent's don't pay extra for meals.) Some children come with no diapers so we must purchase diapers, wipes, formula, clothing and many other supplies for your children which you take for granted or feel you are entitled to. Some of my children get their only hot meal a day at my house and I don't charge extra for that. Many of my charges are safer at my home than at their own, your child spends more time with me than at home with you. Consider that the next time you consider how much you are paying for childcare.

I am a Child Care Provider in WI and our laws for regulated child care providers, rival that of any public school teacher. However, We have to deal with so much more. Unlike public school teachers, if we forget to dot an "i" or cross a "t" on our state paperwork we fill out DAILY, we can be revoked and lose our business. We do continuing education every year, must continue to take annual classes in safety and health care, we must be nutritionists, mother, father, care taker, diaper changer, teacher, cuddler, and everything in between. Most of us are watching our license max of 8 children and the only reward we get is an occasional "thank you" at the end of the day. We sure do hear when something isn't acceptable, but think of all the wonderful things we do with your children all day. We are raising your children for you so yes, we do deserve to be paid better. You would expect it of your doctors, lawyers and others but why not with the most important thing in your life, your child. You cannot put a price on your child's well-being and safety.

One has to question why the title of the article is the Lowly Child Care worker rather than the Lowly Salaries of Child Care Workers. We have a long way to go indeed!