Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Prolonged Financial Malnutrition



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Prolonged Financial Malnutrition
May 29, 2015
The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.
-Barbara Kingsolver

In his article, "Prolonged Financial Malnutrition: Impact on our Field" in the May/June 2015 issue of Exchange, George Philipp observes:

"It is an amazing time to be in the early education field.  In every state and community we see new funding opportunities and innovative approaches to supporting young children.  Public acceptance of the importance of the first few years of life continues to spread rapidly.  But watching the dramatic evolution of our field over the last few decades, I find myself haunted by a fundamental question.  On the surface, we seem to be making great progress.  Public policy is catching up with the wealth of new research on child development.  New initiatives and funding opportunities are cropping up all over the country.  Yet despite this, our field still seems to be struggling.  Why is that?

"In my mind, historically and presently, one persistent core issue has prevented us from creating a high-quality system for all children.  That issue is the fact that we have never received adequate funding to achieve our goals.  And even when policymakers acknowledge that our field is currently underfunded, they fail to take into account the effects of decades of previous inadequate funding.  My diagnosis: the early education field is suffering the effects of prolonged financial malnutrition.

"A person suffering from prolonged malnutrition would exhibit the following symptoms: constant hunger, weakness, confusion, stress, depression, and desperation.  Analogously, these are all conditions that plague our field.  And just as a person suffering from prolonged malnutrition needs to be put on a long-term recovery plan, so, too, our field needs a long-term, comprehensive solution that will allow us to recover from decades of poor funding."





Not Just Small Change

50% Discount!
Use code "smallchange" when prompted.


Not Just Small Change: Fund Development for Early Childhood Programs is a fundraising guide written specifically for early childhood programs by a veteran early childhood fundraiser, Roberta Bergman.  The practical resource provides advice on...

  • Whom Can We Ask (and Keep Asking) for Money?
  • Building the Donor Base
  • Developing Relationships with Your Donors
  • Events — Yours and Theirs
  • Direct Mail
  • Online Donations
  • Grant Writing
  • Writing Foundation Proposals: Dear Mr. Gates
  • Preparing Government Grant Application
  • Breaking New Ground: The Capital Campaign

Sale ends May 30, 2015 at 11:59 pm PDT.
May not be combined with any other offer.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Scholastic, Big Day, Ensure Kindergarten readiness by building a foundation for success.
Softerware, Make Managing Your Childcare Center Easier.
Children Learning With Nature Training Institute - JULY 2015


Comments (6)

Displaying 5 of 6 Comments   [ View all ]
Vicki · May 30, 2015
Australia


I think a huge part of the problem is that we have a degree in something everyone thinks they can do without one! I've had parents say to me "oh so you had to go to university to do this?! "

Ruthie · May 30, 2015
San Marcos, CA, United States


Yes, it is an exciting time to be in the Early Care Field. New studies on the importance of the first five years is very encouraging. However, the money we receive seems to always go to upper management and administration of programs rather than to those of us in the field. I have been in Early Care and Education field for 33 years I have 2 Associate Degrees, BA Degree and would like to finish my masters however with the salary I earn 17.00 per hour it makes it difficult. Agencies do not encourage teachers to think outside the box and when they do teachers are criticized. Management expects teachers to put in their own time and money to the classrooms. Teachers do not have scheduled time to lesson plan and research creative learning ideas. Classrooms are stuffed to the brim with infant and toddlers, which is not appropriate according to WESTED research. Then we wonder why as children grow they become aggressive and frustrated. Let's hope the funders take a close look at how money is spent and support the teachers who are on the front lines doing their best every day to provide quality care and education to the children in their programs.

Peter Luke Gebhardt · May 29, 2015
Aor International
Dallas, TX, United States


Early childhood education workers' pay needs to be increased. Ongoing d.a.p. training needs to be built in to schedule, so that e.c.e. workers feel valued, and want to stay & develop relationships with children & co-workers!&#127802;

Sylvia Velasquez Lawrence · May 29, 2015
Pacific Sage Preschool
United States



Early Education in America is an old institution built on a foundation of judgement and perspectives about the value and worth of the work. It is unable, and in some instances unwilling, to support all the add-ons of current research and quality expectations. Change is going to require accepting a shift across many platforms, including territorial educational systems.
Quality and compensation impacts costs and accessibility. That's great that everyone is appalled, but no one will commit the resources. We haven't learned to balance our Western Individualism and "do it yourself" attitude with a sense of community responsibility.
Interesting, we will compassionately give to people suffering from disasters. I would say for children in America, Early Education and Care is a heartbreaking disaster in need of a telethon.
For perspective...I completed my initial Child Development Certification (32units) at a community college in 1978. (the only place to take them and under Home Economics) Education BA's were for elementary and above. Minimum wage was $2.90/hour and my first job paid me $7.50/hr...more than twice minimum wage. I had a profession and a career.
It is 38 years later...quality programs want BA's and above and many young teachers are being offered $9 or $10/hr to work in programs that receive CA state funding. In 2016 minimum wage will jump to $10, so by comparison, early childhood educators should be making $20/hr in the private/non-profit sector...not even close.
I am still in the field because I passionately believe in the work...but yes, a heartbreaking disaster.

Margo Sipes · May 29, 2015
Downtown Baltimore Child Care, Inc
Baltimore, MD, United States


I agree with this article but it is missing one very important point. The people who staff the early care and education field also suffer from "Prolonged Financial Malnutrition." Compensation, including wages, benefits, and support for professional development continue to be profoundly lacking.

The great progress we are making has been made on the backs of incredibly wonderful and dedicated teachers and administrators who work for substandards wages.



Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.