The purpose of the following testimonials are NOT to scare parents from going to work or to discredit the MANY phenomenal teachers who are definitely doing this occupation for the love of it ! Fear and being silent will NOT resolve the issue of poor child care. We MUST face those fears and take steps to correct them. Many injustices have occured throughout the face of history but only a few being persistent in bringing them to the light made it possible for change.
These accounts will serve the purpose of disclosure of the truth of poor child care facilities and put those who create laws and safeguards for children to face front and take notice.
For all of those parents who do their very best to assure their child in good child care , you are to be applauded.
For those parents who have found themselves in a bad care facility, you are to be applauded for taking the steps for change.
For all of the dedicated and passionate child care providers, you are to be celebrated as heroes as you are being the model of the tomorrow's leaders and future.
TESTIMONIALS
Something does need to be done to change this so children will thrive and I do agree with you alot of this does not go on inside the home. Alot is happening with the very people who were trusted to care for their children. A couple weeks ago I a provided back up care for another daycare and I was appalled at the little girls comments to me. She asked me if she could come back and when I wasked her why she said "because "J" is mean to me". Knowing that all kids say this, I prodded further to see what she meant by this. She went on to tell me that "J' has slapped her, told her that she would break her "fng" fingers ( this from a 4 year old). It broke my heart. I turned it in but nothing happened. This same daycare had a child drink Benadryl and had to call poison control and still nothing happened. No warnings. no nothing. It makes me sick to think that this is going on. Other daycares have kids in non ventilated areas that aren't fit for habitation let alone kids. I know that there are good daycares but the bad ones need to go and let these kids thrive and grow up healthy and happy. I will help you in any way that I can because I believe if enough care that a difference can be made.
Yes you can use that part of my letter for your class. If it helps one person it will be worth it. I will also pull out the letters I wrote my congressman and no one ever said anything about it. I get so frustrated because just once I would love to see that all daycares were there for children and not money.
Anonymous 7/22/2000
Another provider who was turned in for putting benadryl into children's milk "so they would sleep", she would tell me. Not only this but she would be in the shower with the kids in the back yard playing and I have heard her hit the children. True I never say it but it is unmistakable over the phone. Well I had told someone else and she turned her in. I was relieved and thought she would be shut down for sure. I couldn't imagine what could happen to those kids over there. She was investigated and they even interviewed one of the children who was pulled out of there. This child told a mutual friend that she had slapped him in the face. They let her go and she is still doing child care. I shutter when I think that a child will probably have to be seriously injured for the state to do anything about this dangerous situation. She was off balance and even admitted to me once that she was supposed to be on medication for it but it made her sick so she doesn't take it. she was really good at faking it and coming off as the perfect provider. I would hope that you will not use my state if you use this infomation. I don't want any trouble from this person.. although I have nothing to hide, but she is very vindictive.
Anonymous 8/28.2000
Most parents think their child care is fine. Do you think a parent is(or willing ) to admit that their child is in bad daycare? I applaud your efforts. Parents need to be informed of the horrors in some centers... An article in Redbook I read was about the apathy ofparents when they suspect a bad child care arrangement. The article had something to do with a mom who removed her child from a home center after suspecting abuse, said nothing and a week later a child died in that home center. In my years, I have heard "teachers' routinely cuss at kids, pick favs, and neglect others after the parent leaves, directors shortcutting on food. I worked with the state to close one center. Parents left their kids at a center with no phone, a dog in the center, scalding hot water in the PreK restroom, no safety latches on doors leading to busy streets, broken glass and dangling electric wires on the playground. It took six weeks before the center closed. I left after 3 weeks after scalding my hands. The faucets were switched and I thought I had the cold on. I received 1st and 2nd degree burns, and still the state wasn't able to close the center. And more parents were enrolling their kids.
Anonymous 7/13/2000
Your cause is a good one, and often justified, however most of the abuses that I have seen have been by underpaid, undereducated, overworked staff people who have no guidance or resources...also present to the legislature the need to regulate the pay and working conditions of peolpe who care for our future
Anonymous 7/14/2000
I know of many abuses in the daycare system where I am. Some have been turned in and nothing done. Others are non reported because people know that no one will do anything. I have written my legislators but no one seems to care... it breaks my heart when I see these things. Last year we ahd 2 deaths in Tennessee from kids left on vans. It hurts and as a parent and a provider, I would like to see change also.
Anonymous 7/15/2000