Quality Programs for All Children
As a Preschool Director for the last sixteen years I do feel society has changed overall their views on early childhood education. There are more resources out there for families, teachers and administrations. There are so many amazing trainings for professionals in early childhood. What has not changed is how we look at our teachers and how we compensate them for the wonderful work they do in their classrooms. My teachers could go work at McDonald's or the local gas station and make more money then they do as an early preschool teacher. The teachers that had a college degree in Early Childhood only worked for my school for a limited time until they were able to get into the public school system. I tell my teachers that they are the experts in this industry and are professionals but their salaries says otherwise. I think if we can really change how society and especially the parents look at teachers as professional experts in early childhood instead of baby sitters. Then hopefully we can have a starting salary for preschool teachers. I am very passionate about this because my preschool teachers are the ones who introduce them to their ABC's and 123. They help them with their social skills and so much more. I think if we raise their salaries and show them that we do recognized them as experts I believe you will see less turnover rates in our schools and teachers who are professionals at all times. And in return happy children and happy parents and schools that are full in enrollment.
I think that you make some very good points with what you are saying. I am sure that your teachers appreciate the fact that you recognize just how hard they work for the limited compensation that they get for what they do. It really is a shame that all early childhood professionals are just viewed, by many people, as babysitters. I hope that you will be able to make a difference in this area so that people outside of your preschool will be able to see things the same way that you do. I also hope that for the sake of the children that you do not have high teacher turnover due to these low wages because then the children suffer from that as well.
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