-
-
Sadly, I think it is already too late. I am usually the eternal optimist but seriously we have an entire generation of parents that willing allows others to basically raise their child as long as it works for them and their "jobs" are easier.
I think that as a country, our educational (and heck even our financial systems AND welfare systems) needs to collapse before it gets better.
There is NO way out of the hole we have dug....atleast not one I see.
It's all about what looks good and is no longer about what IS actually good....kwim?
I can name a 100 things (not just child care related but life-related) that look fantastic on paper but NOT one of them actually works in practice.
Until we, as a country admits defeat and or failure....NOTHING will change.
I'll use Head Start as an example.......100% COMPLETE and TOTAL failure by their own measures and yet we still dump money into the program and increase classrooms and teachers like we have a checkbook with no limit.
Why?Comment
-
I was looking into doing this, honestly because of the money. But, the more I hear about it the less I want too. Our county doesn't offer it to the providers yet. I do accept state assistance but have no families right now receiving assistance.Oh, and there are some counties in Kansas already participating in this Stars thing.
It has creeped into my county on a trial basis, but I'm absolutely positive no one in my town (and probably in this county) care. The thing is, if they make it mandatory to participate in order to accept state assistance most providers here will have to do it. This is a very low income community and I'm one of the only providers not taking state pay... everyone else seems to rely heavily on it.Comment
-
Kudos to you for opting out. I will not participate in ours either. If it ever becomes mandatory, I guess I am out.Comment
-
This is how our local Waldorf Charter School runs things. 2 yrs of a kindergarten class setting, lots of life skills type learning not an actual curriculum. Start reading in 3rd grade. I have a few friends on FB who's kids go there and it's odd to see a video of a 5yr old reading to their 3yr old sister (older siblings go to school with my kids) and then an 8yr old just learning to read to mom in the same day! Unfortunately the only downside I see to their program is the social aspect of it. The kids are all socially odd. I know at least 5-6 families who's children go there and I'm not even joking when I say you can pick them out in a crowd. It makes me worry for their older life as teens and young adults.
I'm asking this not in a snarky way at all but genuine curiosity? Why has the HS program been a failure? My twins went to HS and I was involved in their parent committee and such. It seemed like it was succeeding then? That was 12-13yrs ago.Comment
-
Headstart is a $150 billion dollar FAIL.
Head Start conducted it's own study into the effectiveness of their educational services for early childhood kids.
The study states pretty clearly that there are NO lasting affects on a child's educational or academic success because of Head Start....so why would we continue to pour money in to something that has NO benefit to anyone?Comment
-
I have no real opinion about Waldorf education, other than that it seems great for Kindergarten. Beyond that, I've gotten the same vibe. It's kind of a religion, almost. Not BAD, just different.
The day I spent in the Waldorf kindy near us was very cool, and very interesting. They are based in a very artsy community; very organic, hippie types in the middle of farm-county. THe kids all had the coolest names: Zephyr, Helen, Zane, Hudson, Jude...Last edited by Blackcat31; 01-28-2014, 02:09 PM.Comment
-
BINGO! Winner, winner, Chicken dinner! :I'm tired of being a square peg being rammed into a round hole.
Background for members who don't know me....
Small, multi-age center, only 15 students.
My husband is my business partner and co-lead teacher, one other staffer as an assistant.
I have college degree (BA), NOT in ECE, husband has AA, also not in ECE.
We enroll 1 to 5 year olds.
We have a play based curriculum.
This is our fourth year in the program.
They only want to evaluate same-age "classrooms" now. Well, we don't do that.
The director has to have a BA or higher in ECE. That's me, sorry degree in Anthropology, but enough ECE courses to be granted a Directors Credential.
They want 75 percent of lead teachers to have a BA or higher in any field. Well, with only 2 lead teachers, we are either 0%, 50% or 100%, not mathematically possible to have 75% with a staff of 2.
They want written evidence of monthly lead teacher staff meetings. Its called our dinner table, we're married, why write down 12 fake staff meetings?
These evaluators always rave about our program, environment, curriculum, family involvement, etc. We would be 5 stars without all that administrative junk.
We are basically a large family daycare in principal. We are a center for licensing purposes because we don't live in the building. They concede this, but this year they insist on evaluating same-age classrooms. I asked to be evaluated as a family child care, but that was not possible. Rules, ya know.
Why settle for 3 stars, when you AND the powers that be KNOW your environment warrant 5 stars?
Consequences.....we can no longer accept subsidy.
We will not be eligible for certain grants.
We will no longer appear in their advertisements.
My translation....."we're gonna hit you in the pocketbook if ya don't cooperate".
My center is not what they are accustomed to dealing with. Multi age approach, however, is something all you ladies can relate too......include the younger ones in play, improved vocabulary and language acquisition, roles of leadership for the older ones, greater pro-social behavior, etc. Siblings together, home like atmosphere, personal attention, the list goes on and on......but you know that already.
So was I wrong to opt out? Am I being a cry baby? Should I have continued trying to fit the mold? What about the actual physical human children that qualify for subsidy but can not come here anymore? I only have one child on it now, an easy pie wonderful 4 year old girl that I am prepared to keep at her state rate anyways. The state paid about 50% of her tuition of $185 per week, so I'll take the hit to keep this awesome child. But no more in the future.
:
Comment
-
:: Yes they do have very neat names! Let me think of the ones I know... Sage, Nolan, Kade, Finn, Roan...
I don't know that I agree with this really. I can understand from a daycare provider comparison, the idea that HeadStart is "better" than daycare I don't agree. BUT when you compare under-priveledged, poverty-stricken children and their upper-middle class counterparts of course you're going to have very little long term positive outcomes just based soley on their lifestyle outside of Head Start. For me it was a God-send! There was no way, as a single mom to twins, I could afford private preschool. I literally had to quit my job because I couldn't afford childcare. I was referred to Head Start, enrolled and was able to get a subsidy and transporation for after care which carried into funding for a home daycare and I found a PT job that turned into a FT job with benefits, vacation, etc. and really made a huge impact on my life.Headstart is a $150 billion dollar FAIL.
Head Start conducted it's own study into the effectiveness of their educational services for early childhood kids.
The study states pretty clearly that there are NO lasting affects on a child's educational or academic success because of Head Start....so why would we continue to pour money in to something that has NO benefit to anyone?
I will say that comparing even two HS centers in two neighboring cities will give you a HUGE variance in outcome. Just being white and non-hispanic my children statistically have a better outcome in school, period. The first HS we went to was fabulous!! The parent participation was much bigger than the second HS my boys attended. The site was older, the teachers were older, one looked as if she lived in her truck! I kid you not!
I still see some of the teachers from their first school and they remember us and we chit-chat! I stronly believe parents who are involved in their children's education, even in preschool, will have a better outcome than the children of non-participant parents. I was on the Head Start Site Counsel and was paid my gas and time to go there once a month. I was our classroom parent, even though I worked FT. My kids participated in sports as well. It's kinda like saying our food stamp program is a complete failure so why pour money into a failing program when the participants are usually overweight and unhealthy. You're not looking at the bigger picture of WHY these people are even participating. They're living in poverty.
I took a class at our local R&R about nutrition and how 85% of children in childcare are obese. WHAT?? It just doesn't make sense to me that these numbers even match. Of the 16 kids I've cared for in my childcare since mid-2012, 2 are probably classified as obese based on their weight but really are just big for their age. A 2.5yr old who wears a 4T and a 4yr old who wears a 5-6. They're tall and broad, not just fat!
Anyway, I can understand why this program can be viewed as a failure, but I feel it's really not taking into consideration their enviornment at home which I feel plays a bigger part than anything. My boys were definitely ready for Kindy and did very well in elementary school because it's based on what you know. Once they get to Jr High & High school they have lagged dramatically because it's also about what you do. How organized you are, how well you can manage your time, etc. They score in advanced in their STAR testing but are LAZY teenage boys that barely bring in a 2.0! It's discouraging as a parent but I don't think it has to do with Head Start! LOL My 3 middle boys all attended private preschool and didn't know any more or less than my older 2 boys who went to HS. I feel it's more about giving these children a chance to be ready for school instead of handing Kindergarten teachers a handful of kids who can't count, write their name or say their ABC's because mom & dad didn't teach them and the neighbor lady next door only watched him for $10/day and fed him cheap food and plugged him in front of the TV all day.Comment
-
Well said! I, too, try to be optimistic and embraced the star system in the beginning with the reasoning it is here, so let's make it work by doing the best we can. BUT all that has changed now and providers and I realize that. Like I stated earlier, my feelings take over because of the passion I have for my job, but I have to move on because negativity breeds negativity and I refuse to let the powers that be take away from my own children nor the children in my daily care. Got a wonderful daycare support group meeting tonight with some great friends personally and professionally. Very timely!
Comment
-
I don't know that I agree with this really. I can understand from a daycare provider comparison, the idea that HeadStart is "better" than daycare I don't agree. BUT when you compare under-priveledged, poverty-stricken children and their upper-middle class counterparts of course you're going to have very little long term positive outcomes just based soley on their lifestyle outside of Head Start. For me it was a God-send! There was no way, as a single mom to twins, I could afford private preschool. I literally had to quit my job because I couldn't afford childcare. I was referred to Head Start, enrolled and was able to get a subsidy and transporation for after care which carried into funding for a home daycare and I found a PT job that turned into a FT job with benefits, vacation, etc. and really made a huge impact on my life.
I will say that comparing even two HS centers in two neighboring cities will give you a HUGE variance in outcome. Just being white and non-hispanic my children statistically have a better outcome in school, period. The first HS we went to was fabulous!! The parent participation was much bigger than the second HS my boys attended. The site was older, the teachers were older, one looked as if she lived in her truck! I kid you not! I still see some of the teachers from their first school and they remember us and we chit-chat! I stronly believe parents who are involved in their children's education, even in preschool, will have a better outcome than the children of non-participant parents. I was on the Head Start Site Counsel and was paid my gas and time to go there once a month. I was our classroom parent, even though I worked FT. My kids participated in sports as well. It's kinda like saying our food stamp program is a complete failure so why pour money into a failing program when the participants are usually overweight and unhealthy. You're not looking at the bigger picture of WHY these people are even participating. They're living in poverty.
I took a class at our local R&R about nutrition and how 85% of children in childcare are obese. WHAT?? It just doesn't make sense to me that these numbers even match. Of the 16 kids I've cared for in my childcare since mid-2012, 2 are probably classified as obese based on their weight but really are just big for their age. A 2.5yr old who wears a 4T and a 4yr old who wears a 5-6. They're tall and broad, not just fat!
Anyway, I can understand why this program can be viewed as a failure, but I feel it's really not taking into consideration their enviornment at home which I feel plays a bigger part than anything. My boys were definitely ready for Kindy and did very well in elementary school because it's based on what you know. Once they get to Jr High & High school they have lagged dramatically because it's also about what you do. How organized you are, how well you can manage your time, etc. They score in advanced in their STAR testing but are LAZY teenage boys that barely bring in a 2.0! It's discouraging as a parent but I don't think it has to do with Head Start! LOL My 3 middle boys all attended private preschool and didn't know any more or less than my older 2 boys who went to HS. I feel it's more about giving these children a chance to be ready for school instead of handing Kindergarten teachers a handful of kids who can't count, write their name or say their ABC's because mom & dad didn't teach them and the neighbor lady next door only watched him for $10/day and fed him cheap food and plugged him in front of the TV all day.
Just because the program is good for the underprivileged (some not all), doesn't mean it's a success or worth the $150 million dollars we dole out each year for it.
If more money was spent helping parents support and raise their own children verses having to work long hours and spend a ton of time away from their children, then I would be supportive of it but as it stands now I am not.
fwiw~ I AM looking at the big picture....
My oldest child went to HS
I used to be employed by HS for many years before opening my own child care
I collaborate with them now as part of my child care program.
I DO think the food stamp program IS a giant waste of money AS IS...I think it needs a HUGE overhaul too.
I also know that I am not far off in my thinking because as I posted, HS was the entity that conducted the study in the first place and gave themselves a big fat "F" so.....
You may be one success story but that doesn't mean it is worth millions of dollars a year just to benefit 1% of those enrolled.Comment
-
We were just talking about this. We are now cutting people's food stamp allotments, which is NOT the answer. It's the way the program is administered that's the problem. There is no nutrition education involved, and no direction. "Here's a few bucks, go buy yourself something to eat".Just because the program is good for the underprivileged (some not all), doesn't mean it's a success or worth the $150 million dollars we dole out each year for it.
If more money was spent helping parents support and raise their own children verses having to work long hours and spend a ton of time away from their children, then I would be supportive of it but as it stands now I am not.
fwiw~ I AM looking at the big picture....
My oldest child went to HS
I used to be employed by HS for many years before opening my own child care
I collaborate with them now as part of my child care program.
I DO think the food stamp program IS a giant waste of money AS IS...I think it needs a HUGE overhaul too.
I also know that I am not far off in my thinking because as I posted, HS was the entity that conducted the study in the first place and gave themselves a big fat "F" so.....
You may be one success story but that doesn't mean it is worth millions of dollars a year just to benefit 1% of those enrolled.
How about:
-Limits on "junk"...processed foods and goodies.
-A financial incentive to participate in nutrition classes, community gardens, and farmers co-ops or farmer's markets. An emphasis on fresh vegetables (or frozen), whole grains, lean meats. Most people on food stamps can't afford those things, may not even know how to prepare them, and often don't know they can GO to a farmers market with their card. I know I didn't years ago.
The truth is, though, that more than likely there's some big corporate lobbyist who's job it is to make sure that people are stuck buying chicken nuggets, frozen pizzas, and pop tarts with their $35 a week.Comment
-
You can do nonparticipating in tn. Still have to have the assessment but the web page will say N/P.Comment
-
In Texas, I am what is called a listed home. I can only have 3 children, I am never inspected (unless there is a complaint), can not accept subsidy kids, and can not participate in the food program. I'm fine with that-I meant to be registered but my vintage house wouldn't pass the inspection process. What strikes me as odd is that if I were a bureaucrat, I would want me on the food program so that they would have a reason to come in and make sure things aren't horrible. From what I'm hearing, listed providers are going to be phased out in the near future. If that happens, I'll quit. I'm just 1 1/2 years from drawing social security, so I'll be ok.
I'll be very, very sad though. I will miss my kids more than you can imagine.
Here's my question about the centers and stars. Most of my kids are special needs kids. They don't fit into anyone's programs. Where are they going to find providers who will take the time to feed a 2 year old by hand, mix up special things for the baby who has eating problems, do special exercises every 2 hours? What center or large home will find the time to spend as much as 5 hours a week with therapists, learning what these kids need? I'm not tooting my own horn, but my therapists tell me that I am the only person in our town who will do this. They have a waiting list of kids that they want me to take. It seems to me that there is always going to be a need for people like me-a small place with the time to devote to these kids. I shudder to think of my kids in a center. One was telling me today about a child she wants to put here. She said that every time she goes to see him, he is sitting in a corner-just sitting. If someone puts a toy in front of him, he plays with it until someone comes along and moves it. No one is doing anything to pull him out of himself. If a parent is ok with the fact that I'm not inspected, why should the government tell them they can't choose me? None of my kids will ever be affected by common core, so why take something away from them that will affect them (my daycare) and replace it with something harmful?
Ok, I jumped on my soapbox there. Sorry, but I really worry about these kids being overlooked. They don't need people with degrees in ECE. They need people with degrees in Speech therapy, PT, and OT, and they need people like me to follow the instructions of the therapists, and most of all, the need my time and attention. That's it.Comment
Tweet
Comment