How Many Stars Do You Have

[Crystal]

Unfortunately I see this "education requirement" as being a big downfall to the programs. Personally, and I'm sure others have seen this as well, I have seen early childhood caregivers/educators with degrees who have no business being around children in any capacity. Likewise I have seen non-formally educated early childhood caregivers/educators who I look up to, emulate, and hold on a proverbial pedestal because they truly have a gift & talent for working w/children. Absolutely. BUT, there are also providers who have DECADES of expereince that I wouldn't allow to watch my dog. Experience IS valuable, but it doesn't neccessarilay equate to quality care. There are also LOTS of ECE degreed women (and men) with NO experience that are FABULOUS with children, yet chose to get a formal education before entering the field. I see them all the time as a Mentor Teacher for the colleges with student teachers conducting their practicum in my program.

I agree with one of the PP's that working out the kinks is sooooo important as well as making our voices be heard. Just as each child is different & we cannot use the same techniques across the board, I believe the ratings programs need to look at the individual programs/daycares/caregivers and adjust techniques as necesssary. I agree. I certainly think it cannot be a one-size-fits-all, but I do feel that ALL providers should be required to partake in SOME sort of professional development activities. In California, right now, the ONLY requirement for professional training is pediatric CPR/First aid every two years and a health and safety training class before recieving your license. HOW can that equate to being knowledgeable in child development and DAP?

As a degreed child care provider I have voiced my concern of the educational component (among other things) at area meetings and will continue to do so. A degree is a piece of paper-it does not make anybody more or less of a caregiver than somebody without a degree.I disagree that a degree is simply a piece of paper. As a provider with 16 years of experience, who started school 6 years ago, I have grown TREMENDOUSLY and improved the quality of my program tenfold because of my education. Beofre I started school, I thought my experience was more valuable than a piece of paper as well. Boy, did I learn otherwise!

I responded in bold above.

[Crystal]

Recently, I have been bombarded with calls from the folks implementing the star rating system in my state.

I ahve to wonder why are they pushing so hard for may participation? What is in it for them if I participate?

The gal from my district is coming tomorrow to my house to personally give me and orientation to the system and answer any questions I have.....

Why the personal attention? Kinda makes me wonder, but I am willing to listen and ask questions so we will see.

(Anyone in MN that has any specific questions, let me know and I will ask tomorrow and let you know.)

They may want you to become a menotr or model program for it

[Crystal]

We are actually going to have "coaches" that will help us with this. Another person to come into my house and mess things up!

CK.....I have to wonder why you are so against a program that will help you with all of the issues that you seem to have within your program. How is a coach going to mess things up for you? I am a "coach" (called a mentor here) and I don't mess things up for others when I visit them. I go in to work with provders as a team to make quality improvements that benefit the children AND the provider.

Every single day I see providers here with YEARS of experience who are complaining, asking for advice from other providers, etc. If a provider has complaints and needs advice on a frequent basis, then IMO they NEED help.

Frankly, a solid education that teaches providers about child development, business management and DAP can HIGHLY benefit those who have such issues.

[Crystal]

Exactly. The class I took was called "Healthy teeth, Healthy smiles". There is no way I'm going to get 6 kids in my 1/2 bath every morning and have them brush their teeth just to add a notch to my belt. Not to mention that the bathroom that the kids use in my house is small, (toilet and sink), so then I have to use up my own personal space storing all of the toothbrushes, toothpaste, cups etc. Like you said, parents be parents, brush your kids teeth at home. Makes me so mad that we have to wipe parents butts sometimes. How is teaching children self-help and lifeskills such a burden? Isn't that really part of our job? I understand space issues, but I have a half bth that 14 children brush their teeth in every day. I don't find it to be such a burden at all

BC, it's ALL about the money. You don't think these programs are really doing it for the sake of the kids do ya? Our gov't is broke as it is, why are we spending so much money on ridiculous things. How is it all about the money? You say that, but then you say that the governemnt is wasting money. If it was all about the money, then it wouldn't be happening at all. Of course it is ALL about the kids. The government is attempting to improve the quality of care and services children recieve to ensure their health and safety. How can that be so wrong?

This is the direct listing on my state's rating page for teeth brushing.

"Early Childhood Educator has a plan that supports maintenance and improvement of children's health -- A regular oral care routine, including tooth brushing and/or gum wiping (for infants) at least once per day."

i replied in bold above.

[Crystal]

Okay, this is the last one I"ll post, but the more I re-read my state's info, the more mad I get. I wonder do we all have the same requirements/questions for the rating system? This is another one. I wonder if they know I'm an in-home daycare licensed for 6 and not an elementary school. This is the question:

Early Childhood Educator has evidence of family engagement and involvement -- Early Childhood Educator engages in formal communication (i.e., parent/teacher conferences, home visits) to inform parents of children's developmental progress. Does that mean you HAVE to do home visits, or that is ONE of the options? Family engagement and involvement can mean lots of things, and IS very important, IMO.

Seriously? In-home visits? parent/teacher conferences? HUH?

replied in bold above again

[Country Kids]

We have to also remember that there are many teachers in the public schools with degrees that aren't the best thing for our children. They are there for the paycheck/time off. Another thing is some teachers aren't even teaching their field of expertise so probably have little experience in the subject. Ex. Auto/woodshop teachers teaching history, Foreign language teachers teaching language arts, PE teachers teaching math.

I started this with a five year plan that has now gone into 17 years. 5 years ago we were phasing out the childcare so I could stay home with just our children and maybe work in the schools. 2 years ago, my hubby lost his job so I went back into it full time (60 hour weeks). Hubs found a job but I still had to work to keep us going. Will I be in this another 10-15 years? I don't really know the answer so do I want to put schooling into this, money we don't have, to not be doing it that much longer.

If I had know 17 years ago that I would be in it this long, I would have tried to take classes for this. Our local college just recently though started offering night time classes, so I think they saw this coming and thought if providers need classes we need to step up and offer them in the evening. I only learned about the night time classes 2 months ago.

What I find funny is, experience counts for nothing. How do they really think we have raised our own children. My husband and I took no classes, have no degree, and learned by trial and error like every father/mother before us. Oh, and we have both received several Dad/Mom awards from our biggest fans through the years. I'm not saying all parents are cut out for parenthood but its not just a new thing, there have been bad parents throughout history, I'm sure.

I really, really don't know if taking classes is going to open my eyes up to anything after this long in life. Its kinda like taking the food classes, they have you take classes on nutrition while looking at all your homemade food on the childrens plates. No brainer, you could be teaching the class!

[Country Kids]

CK.....I have to wonder why you are so against a program that will help you with all of the issues that you seem to have within your program. How is a coach going to mess things up for you? I am a "coach" (called a mentor here) and I don't mess things up for others when I visit them. I go in to work with provders as a team to make quality improvements that benefit the children AND the provider.

Every single day I see providers here with YEARS of experience who are complaining, asking for advice from other providers, etc. If a provider has complaints and needs advice on a frequent basis, then IMO they NEED help.

Frankly, a solid education that teaches providers about child development, business management and DAP can HIGHLY benefit those who have such issues.

Have you been in a public schoolroom lately? That teacher has a degree hanging on the wall, experierence under the belt but I bet on a daily basis they are dealing with diciplinary issues, teaching issues, parent issues, staff issues, etc. The Dept. of Education doesn't have coaches going in to help them. I think that would help our children immensly.

[lovemykidstoo]

Crystal, for some reason I can't quote your last response to me. Yes, I copied and pasted what it took to get 1 of the points on our system here. You have to do a home visit/conference to get that point. It is not an "option". There is a separate point for having daily communication with the parent IE at pickup talking with them about the day. This specifically says home visits/conference.

About the teeth brushing, like I said, I am an in-home daycare. I have alot of my home already delegated for daycare. Meaning that is ALL I do with certain rooms. Now I'm to make space in a very small bathroom for 7 toothbrushes, toothpaste, cups etc simply for the purpose of having the kids brush their teeth in the morning when I feel that some parents need to step up and take care of their own kids in the morning. I get tired of hearing about kids not being dressed, changed, fed in the morning. If you want to brush the kids teeth, that's great, I appreciate that. There is nothing wrong with that. My point is, how much gov't regulation do you want? If you make the point that this is set up to help and encourage and educate providers, there are many places to get that guidance without being mandated to do things.

[lovemykidstoo]

CK.....I have to wonder why you are so against a program that will help you with all of the issues that you seem to have within your program. How is a coach going to mess things up for you? I am a "coach" (called a mentor here) and I don't mess things up for others when I visit them. I go in to work with provders as a team to make quality improvements that benefit the children AND the provider.

Every single day I see providers here with YEARS of experience who are complaining, asking for advice from other providers, etc. If a provider has complaints and needs advice on a frequent basis, then IMO they NEED help.

Frankly, a solid education that teaches providers about child development, business management and DAP can HIGHLY benefit those who have such issues.

I don't think it's a bad thing or even a sign that providers are struggling and need help if they post here things they're dealing with. Sometimes you have 5 minutes out of day that is frustrating and you need a sounding board. Doesn't necessarily mean that you need to call someone and make an appt to get help. I bet you would be a good mentor and I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I wonder how much different this rating system is from state to state, because there are no mentors here. This is simply a system that you check the boxes for what you do and the computer gives you a rating. I have not heard of anyone being available to call or come over to help. I could be wrong however, I just haven't heard of it yet here.

[Childminder]

Right now, a provider can do EVERYTHING right...health and safety, environment, have a great curriculum, plan "intentionally", have great interactions, have a fantastic business plan and budget, have health insurance and solid contracts, etc, and still only be 3 stars because...no degree. She may have had 1000's of hours of continuing ed over the years (like I did), but since it's not "formal" training, it doesn't count.

This is what I meant about apples and oranges - I can only be a 1 star in my state if I comply with all except education. I also have taken a multitude if classes and put countless hours under my belt but it does count as formal training.

[Country Kids]

I personally think that all states should come into agreement on what they want. It should be the same nation wide. I'm thinking if you have parents moving from different states and the rating system is totally different, they aren't going to really understand it.

[nanglgrl]

I personally think that all states should come into agreement on what they want. It should be the same nation wide. I'm thinking if you have parents moving from different states and the rating system is totally different, they aren't going to really understand it.

Good point! I agree. They should also do the same for registration requirements. I doubt they would all come to an agreement though.

[Country Kids]

Right now I have 11 families. None of them, I mean non have asked me if I have had any trainings for teaching children, what kind of trainings I have and none have even asked if I'm liscensed through the state or how many children I'm allowed.

Now four are teachers with one being at Head Start. So far the HS parent has let me know their child will never grace the door step of head start. The would rather pay me for the excellent program I do right here. The other teachers are on board also. One was going to send child to a private preschool/kindergarten program but said the child was doing so well here they didn't see any reason to change. I also have another teacher on my waiting list that said the same thing. Once child is here there is no reason to change-my program is just fine.

I have no "formal" education, stars, or anything like that. Right now I have experience, trial/error/ and allowing kids to be kids. Looks like its working pretty well for me.

[Meeko]

Right now I have 11 families. None of them, I mean non have asked me if I have had any trainings for teaching children, what kind of trainings I have and none have even asked if I'm liscensed through the state or how many children I'm allowed.

Now four are teachers with one being at Head Start. So far the HS parent has let me know their child will never grace the door step of head start. The would rather pay me for the excellent program I do right here. The other teachers are on board also. One was going to send child to a private preschool/kindergarten program but said the child was doing so well here they didn't see any reason to change. I also have another teacher on my waiting list that said the same thing. Once child is here there is no reason to change-my program is just fine.

I have no "formal" education, stars, or anything like that. Right now I have experience, trial/error/ and allowing kids to be kids. Looks like its working pretty well for me.

Amen..

But didn't you know that someone who doesn't know you, or your family, or your home, or your history, or your program, or your DCP's or your DC kids....knows much better than you about how you should run YOUR business?

[Meeko]

Education is admirable. I applaud all those who desire to further themselves.

But education is NOT everything.

All 4 of my kids had a wonderful 4th grade teacher. My son is 28 now and still says thanks to her, his love of reading was born. He still e-mails her sometimes. Same with my now teenage daughters. This teacher is retired now, but loved by so many children in our city. She was/is warm, loving, attentive and generous with the kids. She got her bachelors degree when she was young. She never married or had kids of her own...but she has scores of kids she still remembers and keeps in contact with from years ago. When she retired, hundreds of people went to her open house at the school.

Worst teacher my kids ever had? Used to be a teacher at elementary school. Nasty, arrogant piece of work who was hated by every child. Then went on to be the principal of one of the junior high school. And then principal of a high school. (not my daughters high school thank goodness!)
Always furthering his education. He was PHD by the time he hit the high school. Still a nasty man. Still hated. Still no idea how to connect with kids regardless of his education. The man should never have been in the field he was.

If "stars" were added behind the local teachers names....he would of been a 5. The 4th grade teacher would have been so low down the totem pole, with her "measly" bachelors degree.

Yet only one was born to be a teacher.

One shouldn't have been allowed around kids. (He was actually finally run off from the high school ("retired" early) after there was an inquiry into where fundraising money was going........ (If any of you are from Utah, the name Timpview High should be familiar!!!!)

I believe a formal education isn't needed at all to be a good daycare provider. There is no degree out there than can teach a person to be loving and kind and patient if it isn't already in their nature.

To be daycare provider, you need MOM skills...and that can't be taught. It comes with a nurturing spirit and experience.