The Preschool Times

President Obama’s new stimulus package has created a stir in the Early Childhood industry. Over the last several weeks, Early Childhood professionals across the nation have waited patiently to see if our chosen field of study would be recognized as a valuable asset to the education of our nation’s children.

Time and time again, we have heard many of our political leaders pay us lip service, but alas, no one was willing to fund our programs. Even Florida residents voted for Universal Pre-Kindergarten but failed to attach funding to it. In other words, we all agree that Early Learning is important but no one wants to pay for it!

Well, happy days! We finally have a President who not only believes that Early Education is an important component of our educational system, but has designated additional funds for some essential programs. Unfortunately most of that funding will go directly to Head Start and a few other federally funded programs.

Very few of us in the “middle” sector will see any of that funding. Now don’t get me wrong; as a young professional who cut her baby teeth working in a Head Start program I am an absolute advocate of the program.  And yes, much of the middle class can afford some preschool tuition; but what about equitable pay for preschool teachers? When preschool teachers’ pay is derived from solely private funds, without any subsidy from the government, their wages are directly related to what young families are able to pay.

It doesn’t take a “Rocket Scientist” to understand that better educated teachers can lead to better educated children. But teachers with degrees need to be compensated in a manner that is worthy of their degree! It’s just simple math.

You see, what many people fail to understand is that a preschool teacher earns their salary at the poverty level of pay. They work long hours doing not only educational endeavors but they also function as an extension of a family by holding ill children until a parent or guardian can pick them up or cleaning a soiled child. Preschool teachers must be one part educator, one part family member, one part nurse, and one part maintenance worker. (Those tables, floors, toys and cots don’t clean and maintain themselves!)

Until our society truly understands what a unique field Early Childhood is, we will never receive the respect (funds) due to our field. There is a growing mound of research outlining the benefits of a preschool education regardless of economic status. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal (Jan. 21, 2009), “Among 22 scholarly studies reviewed … preschool graduates enter Kindergarten with better pre-reading and math skills than those in other kinds of care or at home with their parents.”  These gains remained with the children until approximately third grade, where the gains began to taper off.

The big difference in educational gains is directly correlated with high quality where the research is more compelling. “High quality programs have low child to staff ratio and trained teachers who interact often, in a positive, sensitive and stimulating way with the children”. The academic edge lasted at least through fifth grade.

Without proper funding from the government, preschool teacher’s salaries will remain on the bottom rung. Families, even those who are economically comfortable, are only willing to pay so much for Early Childhood Education and the taxes and liability insurance of operating a facility which caters to such little (non voting) citizens is astronomical.

We get up every day and do what we love without any guarantee of an equitable wage or hope for retirement. But maybe, just maybe the times they are a changing.

Peace & Light,

Grace