Show r Yo l rr r ji T- T i r sr j f tk 44 t LS Li r t Paying aying P homage to child care providers T ti Terry Dillon Associate Editor HILD care providers in inthe r G CHILD the State of Utah were to tobe tobe be honored by Governor r Bangerter Ban r this month The special day came and went without the governors governor's notice notice or or so it would seem T- T based upon his remarks s to 1 students at r The Child Development r Lab School at is a leader I in the field of early childhood education Some people mistakenly mistakenly mistakenly mis mis- believe the lab school t merely provides a baby sitting sitting sitting sit sit- ting service Such people do donot not realize how crucial t childrens children's issues issues' are and how imp important 0 r tan t c child h il d car care e providers are in the lives of young pupils k Jeannette r educator and administrator of r- r the lab school is concerned about the way child care i centers are being run run due due to r i low budgets and worn out unappreciated preschool il teachers L' L 1 Preliminary findings by f. f v f. f l BYU researchers in an ongoing ongoing ongoing on- on going study indicate that inchild in inchild child hild care car centers the higher th the ratio of children funded by the state stat the lower the quality of care Why It adds up Low bucks equal low quality equipment low pay for teachers low moral and sadly low educational quality for children Many state- state funded children are only receiving the most rudimentary rudimentary rudimentary tary of maintenance care told how she visited a center in which of pupils were funded by the state The liThe children were mostly native American and some Hispanic I saw children who were unhappy who were scratching biting and miserable children who cried from the time they were dropped off until parents came for them again in the evening knows a better way to care for children The bottom line is that it takes money Parents who have the money to invest in high quality child care are getting it Those who dont don't have the money are not Children need to be treated as individuals who have individual preferences needs and desires Care providers who do not have time because of the large number of children and who also do not have the equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment and supplies to facilitate learning will not be beable beable be able to give high quality care There is also the misery factor People who do not feel their jobs are important or worthy often have a corresponding corresponding corresponding cor cor- responding sense of low self esteem Child care providers need to be well educated They need to be in continuing continuing ing education to keep pace with the issues They need to tobe tobe tobe be aware of children as precious precious precious pre pre- cious individuals Child care providers who are childrens children's advocates who are well versed in child development and psychology ogy and who are earn earll earna earlla a decent wage do the best jobs must must consider making a bigger investment in children Parents must consider the amount of money spent on child care and work a little harder at making that a priority priority per per perhaps haps to dig a little deeper into ioto their pockets In the meantime Governor Gover Gover- nor Bangerter stop scratching scratching scratching scratch scratch- ing your head If you are serious about honoring child childcare childcare care are providers then go ahead and let it show |