ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

You do not this job for the money, when I was going to college on a grant they said needed to make at last $9, this is back in 1993. I just left a center making $10. I's not that the director didn't not to give me the raise she said l would occur after the first year, I was with her 3 years at the same rate. Since I were from the beginning and we we're a private owned I didn't gobble to much but because of a different reason I've left and starting a small at home business so I can make more money and envoy the house I pay for when I'm at work 50 hours a week. I can even include a gardening program in my yard and make more money easier day and less hours gone.

I totally agree with this letter. However, I am not sure why it was sent to the editors of CCIE. It needs to be sent to every congressperson and member of the administration. It is very ironic that that the only people whose eduction we do not subsidize are children birth to 5/6 years old. Even seniors, when they attend state colleges and universities, have part of their education subsidized by the taxpayer. I believe that the federal government should pay for programs for children birth to age 5/6 (but not necessarily run them), My own view is that the money should come from the huge farm bill. My slogan: subsidize children, not cows!

I totally agree with this letter. However, I am not sure why it was sent to the editors of CCIE. It needs to be sent to every congressperson and member of the administration. It is very ironic that that the only people whose eduction we do not subsidize are children birth to 5/6 years old. Even seniors, when they attend state colleges and universities, have part of their education subsidized by the taxpayer. I believe that the federal government should pay for programs for children birth to age 5/6 (but not necessarily run them), My own view is that the money should come from the huge farm bill. My slogan: subsidize children, not cows!

I applaud Ms. Washington and thank her for her efforts to address a situation that has gone largely unnoticed for far to long. Having been involved in early education for more than 20 years I can say that it has always been a challenge not just for myself but also for the many dedicated individuals who make sacrifices on a daily basis to be able to do the work they love. It's a shame that some of the other early childhood organizations that are held in such great esteem cannot join the Council for Professional Recognition on this issue.

As a field we must take a stronger stance on this key issue, I visit many centers struggling to maintain a high standard of quality care under challenging conditions. Most Teachers I encounter are fully aware of the great responsibility they are charged with and valiantly strive to meet the needs of the children. Yet, few fields have the accountability, the rigorous monitoring, the pressure for continuous training and education AND the low wages, lack of respect and lack of security. Most teachers don't even have a lunch room...I see teachers eating in crowded storage rooms or in the classroom at the child sized chairs and tables while children are napping! I often joke that if Wall Street was held to the standards of the ECE field our economy wouldn't be the mess that it is. Until there is economic justice for those who care for the next generation, we must not rest. I would support a concerted effort to double teachers starting salary, especially those taking care of the youngest children where continuity of care is essential. This is also where teachers who work 8 hours a day are also expected to take classes at night and attend weekend professional development.
Thank you for the post today.

It is our most vulnerable children who are most at risk. Our government , both state and Federal are spending huge sums of money to create (Child Care Aware, The DEL, race to the top, departments of Early Ed in our community and technical colleges ) the list is endless. But not even cost of living increases in what they pay a provider for working with these most most vulnerable children.

What we say we value should be backed up by evidence.

What our state and federal initiatives Prove By Evidence, is that we value Guilds (institutions of higher learning) and Quasi government institutions ( child care Aware) and (meetings where we talk about how important early Ed is for children). Because that is where the money goes. Perpetuation of the GUILD and the increase of quasi Government institutions. The evidence shows that these initiatives are about money and power, not children.

If we really care about outcomes for these children we will send these dollars to providers.
We don't do it fort he money, but we need the money to do it.

I am in total agreement with teachers being underpaid....However the question of WHY really needs to be studied. There are multiple factors and I would theorize the factors are different depending on State & County. Although on paper it would seem to make sense.....Govt raise the minimum wage and income will go up....problem solved! But I would suggest in many regions of the country this could have a terrible impact. Preschool & Daycare centers must comply with strict regulations that vary by State. In some States, ratios (# of children per teachers) are more relaxed then in others. If minimum wage was raised the cost of running a school would increase and thus the price must also increase. Who gets hurt? My belief is those families that are in the middle....the middle class. In many States, those with low incomes can apply and get subsidy and those who make high incomes can afford it. But what about those in the middle? So how can this be accomplished? One thought would be to have States/counties provide subsidies directly to the schools in the form of tax credits on property and franchise tax. The amount of the subsidy would depend on the average % over State minimum wage the school pays its teachers. This approach could create the incentive and competition to increase their wages to attract and keep good teachers. Anyone else have any thoughts or ideas?

Nancy Gagnon I couldn't have said it better myself. I also have 20 plus years own/ director and this will only cause additional strain on the American household being forced to pay more tuition. It is easy to sit in high places and say increase the minimum wage again with out having to deal personally with the consquences of their decisions they make law. It is us middle class society that struggles to make ends meet and minimum wage increase causes a domino effect and every thing goes up causing us all additional cost. Maybe the answer is for the government to come off some of their salary and donate it to the child care providers who work hard everyday and are underpaid. Wake up! there are people that live pay check to pay check increase tuition and then you will find families having to look for other outside options. Children put in unsafe situations because they can't afford daycare .

Thank you, Valora,
You have spoken out on a topic that is like a hidden illness in early childhood. The low wages in early childhood is, I think, because the majority of early learning care and education centers are either non-profits or privately owned. We depend almost entirely upon family payments to meet our financial needs. What support there might be from the state programs is limited and cannot be counted on to survive as a center. Those funds can disappear in any fiscal year.
Another significant problem is in the education of our workforce. Frequently, we support a staff person and help them obtain their degree in early childhood. After meeting the minimal continued employment agreement, normally one year, they leave us to work for local school districts who can pay much more. This has become a very discouraging point for those of us striving for higher quality care.
Again, thank you for speaking out.

I could not agree more that wages for early childhood education professionals need to be raised--however it is of extreme concern to me, as a director of a private, non-profit center that when the minimum wage goes up that we will have to raise tuitions through the roof to cover the costs. I agonize every year over the budget! I scrimp and save on every line item. My staff stays with me because it is a wonderful center and many have been here over 20 years--but my starting pay is an embarrassment. I worry about the minimum wage increase causing me to have to raise tuitions for families--they will "understand" (perhaps), but it will be yet another hardship for them. Another "Catch-22"--we need to raise pay for these people, but the people for whom we provide the service are already paying a great deal of money and there is a great deal of competition out there.