Discrimination at Jo-Ann's Fabrics and Crafts

[nannyde]

actually, i think it's being blown a little bit out of proportion. i think when tom says "preschool" he's referring literally to children including daycare children who haven't started school yet.the policy of who can receive the disount at jo-ann's says:

•Currently state certified, credentialed or licensed teacher at any K-12 public, private or parochial school or higher education learning institution

that word "at" means any licensed teacher who works AT a public, private, or parochial school can receive the discount. if the preschool is in a public school and you are a licensed teacher, you would get the discount. you think preschool teachers ARE teachers even if they didn't go through all the school/exams/licensing standards to earn that title, and several other people *think* that way also - which is why i believe jo-ann's made a point to say "state certified, credentialed, or licensed teacher, etc, etc." so every person with a GED who worked at "little sprouts pre-school" couldn't come in and get a discount.

Oh and this too

I was thinking today how disrespectful this whole idea is.

[TomCopeland]

"Teacher"

Is there a difference in credentials for those who educate children? Of course - BA, Masters, PhD, CDA, NAFCC accredited, QRS, and so on. Why is it so important to call some of them teachers and others not? Are we saying that the only way we can call someone a teacher of preschool children is if they have a post-secondary degree? Why this resistance to calling those who educate our children "teachers"?

The problem I have is that making this distinction between those who are "teachers" and those who are not is that by doing so we devalue the work that preschool teachers do. This is particularly disturbing when we know that children learn the most before they become schoolagers!

I'm not trying to devalue the work of school age teachers. I'm not disagreeing that some preschool teachers do a terrible job. I'm saying that what is important is that we recognize the importance of educating preschool children. This work is so important that the least we can do is call them teachers. If this raises the expectations of what preschool teachers should be doing, so be it.

[DCMomOf3]

I'm not trying to devalue the work of school age teachers. I'm not disagreeing that some preschool teachers do a terrible job. I'm saying that what is important is that we recognize the importance of educating preschool children. This work is so important that the least we can do is call them teachers. If this raises the expectations of what preschool teachers should be doing, so be it.

I think it's an area that needs to be talked about at the very least.

I wish I could have access to teacher programs at more than just Joannes. i am pretty sure Scholasic is the same way, and I would love to be able to offer book orders to my families and buy their books for my daycare.

[melskids]

I think it's an area that needs to be talked about at the very least.

I wish I could have access to teacher programs at more than just Joannes. i am pretty sure Scholasic is the same way, and I would love to be able to offer book orders to my families and buy their books for my daycare.

actually, you can.

i registered with scholastic as a HOME DAYCARE, not a TEACHER, because i'm not. i wasnt going to lie, so i didnt. they approved it, so i guess its o.k. i just did it recently, so we havent put an order in yet, but i'm looking foward to it!

[Blackcat31]

I think it's an area that needs to be talked about at the very least.

I wish I could have access to teacher programs at more than just Joannes. i am pretty sure Scholasic is the same way, and I would love to be able to offer book orders to my families and buy their books for my daycare.

I've been doing book orders from Scholastic with my families for the last 7 years...wonderful program! I love it. We also collect Cambell's soup labels and get the rewards for them too. I participate in the Book-it program that the kids do in schools and earn free personal pan pizza's through Pizza Hut after they read so many books.

[jen]

I think that I read somewhere that daycare providers CAN participate in scholastic books...

As for the original topic...if Joann's is discriminating, then what about Box Tops for Education? Are they discriminating? How about Target, who gives a portion of credit card sales to designated schools?

As business owners it is important to us to be able to draw our own line in the sand, I guess Joanne's is entitled to do the same.

PS: On another note, I'm grateful to Tom for his participation on our board and I really don't want anything anyone may have said to turn him off on our little group. Thank you Tom for all of your input. We really do appreciate your presence here.

[Blackcat31]

The following places offer rewards to teachers and none seem to have any strict guidelines as to who is a teacher and who is not.

Staples
Barnes and Noble
Borders Bookstores
Michaels Crafts (every Friday, teachers get 15% off)
Han**** Fabrics
Office Max
Ben Franklin Crafts
Pizza Hut
The National Park systems

http://blog.bradsdeals.com/2010/08/10/71-stores-offering-discounts-to-teachers/

[marniewon]

The following places offer rewards to teachers and none seem to have any strict guidelines as to who is a teacher and who is not.

Staples
Barnes and Noble
Borders Bookstores
Michaels Crafts (every Friday, teachers get 15% off)
Han**** Fabrics
Office Max
Ben Franklin Crafts
Pizza Hut
The Nationa Park systems

http://blog.bradsdeals.com/2010/08/1...s-to-teachers/

Thanks Blackcat! I knew about Staples, as I have a discount card (not for my daycare, but because I homeschool and have for 4 years now) but I didn't know about the rest of them!

[QualiTcare]

Is there a difference in credentials for those who educate children? Of course - BA, Masters, PhD, CDA, NAFCC accredited, QRS, and so on. Why is it so important to call some of them teachers and others not? Are we saying that the only way we can call someone a teacher of preschool children is if they have a post-secondary degree? Why this resistance to calling those who educate our children "teachers"?

The problem I have is that making this distinction between those who are "teachers" and those who are not is that by doing so we devalue the work that preschool teachers do. This is particularly disturbing when we know that children learn the most before they become schoolagers!

I'm not trying to devalue the work of school age teachers. I'm not disagreeing that some preschool teachers do a terrible job. I'm saying that what is important is that we recognize the importance of educating preschool children. This work is so important that the least we can do is call them teachers. If this raises the expectations of what preschool teachers should be doing, so be it.

So who gets to draw the line? Apparently not jo-ann's. So do dance teachers and piano teachers get a discount too by your standards? Seriously, where IS the line?

Nobody is saying what childcare providers do isn't important! It is! It's just NOT THE SAME. And if it is the same, why on earth do they make teachers spend 4 years in college? I can't count how many times I've seen providers here say,"suzy's mom wants to know why she doesn't know her letters. I don't get paid to teach blah blah blah" You seem to be implying that what providers do may be more important since the first 5 years are the most crucial. This is the same line of thinking CNAs have toward nurses. They're the ones who clean poop and vomit and the nurses are the ones getting paid the big bucks and get all the "luxuries." I say the same thing to them, if you want the "luxury" that the nurse has (or teacher) then go to college for four years and share in the "luxury" of all the sacrifice and debt that goes along with the title.

SOOO how about the fact that keeps being ignored that this probably has squat to do with status and everything to do with taxes?

[DCMom]

I've been doing book orders from Scholastic with my families for the last 7 years...wonderful program! I love it. We also collect Cambell's soup labels and get the rewards for them too. I participate in the Book-it program that the kids do in schools and earn free personal pan pizza's through Pizza Hut after they read so many books.

Same here; I guess that's why I'm not too stressed over this subject. If I don't get a discount a JoAnn, I'll just go to Michael's or Office Max where they do give me a teacher's discount.

Defining a what a 'teacher' is aside, I think JoAnn is missing a marketing opportunity. In this economic climate why wouldn't they want to get as many people in the door as possible?

[QualiTcare]

Same here; I guess that's why I'm not too stressed over this subject. If I don't get a discount a JoAnn, I'll just go to Michael's or Office Max where they do give me a teacher's discount.

Defining a what a 'teacher' is aside, I think JoAnn is missing a marketing opportunity. In this economic climate why wouldn't they want to get as many people in the door as possible?

Dcmom, I think it would be safe to assume that other retailers who have extended the discount to providers have the same policy as jo-ann's and the discretion is left up to the cashier or the person issuing the card. I say this bc I followed the links tom gives in his articles and saw several providers say they DO get a discount at jo-ann's even though according to the policy on their website, they shouldn't. Apparently the manager at the particular store this lady went to is a stickler and that's what the fuss is about. It wouldn"t surprise me one bit if instead of extending the policy to all providers, this heat didn't cause jo-ann's to send a memo to all the stores reminding them of the policy that states ONLY teachers be offered the discount. Give someone an inch, they take a mile. You have to be careful what you wish for.

On another note, if the line was extended officially to include providers, should it include unlicensed providers also? Afterall, they do the same job don't they?

[Crystal]

The following places offer rewards to teachers and none seem to have any strict guidelines as to who is a teacher and who is not.

Staples
Barnes and Noble
Borders Bookstores
Michaels Crafts (every Friday, teachers get 15% off)
Han**** Fabrics
Office Max
Ben Franklin Crafts
Pizza Hut
The Nationa Park systems

http://blog.bradsdeals.com/2010/08/1...s-to-teachers/

Yes....I particpate in Borders ( a whopping 30% discount!!!), staples, office max, pizza hut book it beginners, and scholastic. I just passed out book orders today, I have participated for 13 years and have recieved HUNDREDS of dollars in books, toys an equipment.

I am glad to know Michaels participates. They have the same stuff as Joanne's, so I will be sure to frequent Michaels for my supplies from now on.

Oh, and VERY glad to know about the National Parks, we frequent National Parks numerous times each year, so I'll certainly be looking into that!

[Crystal]

I think that I read somewhere that daycare providers CAN participate in scholastic books...

As for the original topic...if Joann's is discriminating, then what about Box Tops for Education? Are they discriminating? How about Target, who gives a portion of credit card sales to designated schools?

As business owners it is important to us to be able to draw our own line in the sand, I guess Joanne's is entitled to do the same.

PS: On another note, I'm grateful to Tom for his participation on our board and I really don't want anything anyone may have said to turn him off on our little group. Thank you Tom for all of your input. We really do appreciate your presence here.

You can particpate in box tops.

As far as Target type programs, those are for non-profit schools, not individual teachers.

Sure, I agree Joanne's can "draw the line in the sand", just as we can. And, by doing so, they may lose potential clientele, just as we might if we do not offer parents what they want.

[QualiTcare]

Yes....I particpate in Borders ( a whopping 30% discount!!!), staples, office max, pizza hut book it beginners, and scholastic. I just passed out book orders today, I have participated for 13 years and have recieved HUNDREDS of dollars in books, toys an equipment.

I am glad to know Michaels participates. They have the same stuff as Joanne's, so I will be sure to frequent Michaels for my supplies from now on.
Oh, and VERY glad to know about the National Parks, we frequent National Parks numerous times each year, so I'll certainly be looking into that!

true - i don't think i'd even want to shop somewhere that i had to break (not twist) their arm to get them to "accept" me.

[jen]

You can particpate in box tops.

As far as Target type programs, those are for non-profit schools, not individual teachers.

Sure, I agree Joanne's can "draw the line in the sand", just as we can. And, by doing so, they may lose potential clientele, just as we might if we do not offer parents what they want.

Hmmm...I didn't know that we could participate in box-tops.

As for the second part, I agree with you. I think that they will most likely lose a few over the whole deal.