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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Are You a "Teacher"
Unregistered 02:16 PM 09-16-2016
Just read this on another site.
The (Federal) Office of Child Care (OCC) has asked the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to re-define child care workers (and preschool teachers, teacher assistants, education administrators) as "teachers". The OCC requested this official change "emphasizing in their rationale new changes in the CCDBG legislation, increased education of these positions and the professionalism of the workforce." But the BLS has denied the request. Now the OCC is appealing and there is a comment period that ends September 20th.
It sounds to me like if the OCC gets this new definition, child care workers will need to have the same degree as teachers. That will seriously decrease the number of qualified workers, not to mention raise prices.
Here are their talking points:
The child care worker classification should be removed from the service occupations. All ECE teaching classifications should be under education.
The job title should be early childhood teacher.
The US Department of Health and Human Services is proposing that early childhood teacher have two categories, birth to three, three to kindergarten. (Another potential option might also be birth to kindergarten for those working with mixed age groups.) Teachers of older aged children are classified into categories by age so early childhood teachers should be classified similarly.
Child care and education cannot be separated.
The early care and education field does not see itself in the current categories. They see themselves as teachers and respond accordingly in surveys already being conducted by the federal government on these occupations.
This change will allow the federal government to gather more accurate statistics that separate Kindergarten and Prekindergarten teachers in school settings.
Current data is very difficult for researchers and policy makers and creates challenges for states who want annual data that is reflective of the early care and education sector. Most do not have resources to do regular salary surveys or do not have registries that encompass the whole workforce.
You can make comments by sending an email to
[email protected] with "2018 SOC" in the subject line
You can read the entire statement here:
https://first5fundametals.app.box.co...aiz6nrfjeif4d0
The (Federal) Office of Child Care (OCC) has asked the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to re-define child care workers (and preschool teachers, teacher assistants, education administrators) as "teachers". The OCC requested this official change "emphasizing in their rationale new changes in the CCDBG legislation, increased education of these positions and the professionalism of the workforce." But the BLS has denied the request. Now the OCC is appealing and there is a comment period that ends September 20th.
It sounds to me like if the OCC gets this new definition, child care workers will need to have the same degree as teachers. That will seriously decrease the number of qualified workers, not to mention raise prices.
Here are their talking points:
The child care worker classification should be removed from the service occupations. All ECE teaching classifications should be under education.
The job title should be early childhood teacher.
The US Department of Health and Human Services is proposing that early childhood teacher have two categories, birth to three, three to kindergarten. (Another potential option might also be birth to kindergarten for those working with mixed age groups.) Teachers of older aged children are classified into categories by age so early childhood teachers should be classified similarly.
Child care and education cannot be separated.
The early care and education field does not see itself in the current categories. They see themselves as teachers and respond accordingly in surveys already being conducted by the federal government on these occupations.
This change will allow the federal government to gather more accurate statistics that separate Kindergarten and Prekindergarten teachers in school settings.
Current data is very difficult for researchers and policy makers and creates challenges for states who want annual data that is reflective of the early care and education sector. Most do not have resources to do regular salary surveys or do not have registries that encompass the whole workforce.
You can make comments by sending an email to
[email protected] with "2018 SOC" in the subject line
You can read the entire statement here:
https://first5fundametals.app.box.co...aiz6nrfjeif4d0
Pestle 02:22 PM 09-16-2016
Surely this is just to change the nomenclature so communities/employers/government understand the legitimate work we're all doing and the skills we're bringing to the job. Assistants/aides don't always need to have or be working toward a degree, do they? Requiring a degree would price a huge number of families out of child care. The care providers would have to jack their fees way up in order to cover the courses for several years.
Play Care 02:39 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Pestle:
Surely this is just to change the nomenclature so communities/employers/government understand the legitimate work we're all doing and the skills we're bringing to the job. Assistants/aides don't always need to have or be working toward a degree, do they? J***Requiring a degree would price a huge number of families out of child care.**** The care providers would have to jack their fees way up in order to cover the courses for several years.
*emphasis mine. YES!! You know what happens when day care employees finally get a degree?! They LEAVE because they can't pay off student loans making $9 an hour. Surely this is just to change the nomenclature so communities/employers/government understand the legitimate work we're all doing and the skills we're bringing to the job. Assistants/aides don't always need to have or be working toward a degree, do they? J***Requiring a degree would price a huge number of families out of child care.**** The care providers would have to jack their fees way up in order to cover the courses for several years.
Until they address how providers are going to make the amount of money necessary to fund the degree, they are creating a bad situation.
Annalee 06:37 PM 09-17-2016
Originally Posted by Play Care:
*emphasis mine. YES!! You know what happens when day care employees finally get a degree?! They LEAVE because they can't pay off student loans making $9 an hour.
Until they address how providers are going to make the amount of money necessary to fund the degree, they are creating a bad situation.
As QRIS reared it's ugly head in my state many years ago, the state made funding possible for providers to obtain ECE degrees, CDAs, etc....I knew this "free education/money" would lead to something down the road. While I am thankful I took advantage of this funding and received my degree and CDA along with other beneficial training, I still do not agree with many of the changes that have happened and are happening and will happen. I do not have, nor did I ever have student loans but as funding has decreased, providers today may have student loans if they are forced to obtain college education. *emphasis mine. YES!! You know what happens when day care employees finally get a degree?! They LEAVE because they can't pay off student loans making $9 an hour.
Until they address how providers are going to make the amount of money necessary to fund the degree, they are creating a bad situation.
Leigh 02:22 PM 09-16-2016
Thanks for sharing. I'm not a teacher, I don't want to be a teacher, and I don't want my child under 4 or 5 years old to be in the care of a teacher. I want my child in a home like environment, and so do my clients. This trend toward formal education for babies is upsetting.
Pestle 02:27 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Leigh:
I'm not a teacher, I don't want to be a teacher, and I don't want my child under 4 or 5 years old to be in the care of a teacher. I want my child in a home like environment, and so do my clients. This trend toward formal education for babies is upsetting.
I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.I'm not a teacher, I don't want to be a teacher, and I don't want my child under 4 or 5 years old to be in the care of a teacher. I want my child in a home like environment, and so do my clients. This trend toward formal education for babies is upsetting.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
AmyKidsCo 02:43 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Pestle:
I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
I totally agree. When I first started family child care I didn't like the term Teacher because I felt that what I do is so much more than teaching. But considering how teachers get so little respect, early childhood teachers less, and family child care providers least of all, I've started calling myself an Early Childhood Educator.I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
I heard the term Educarer at a workshop and if I were Queen of the Universe I'd make everyone use that term. But I'm still waiting for my coronation.
AmyKidsCo 02:51 PM 09-16-2016
On the other side of things, it bugs the heck out of me that 20 yr olds with 2 year degrees are called Teachers just like my husband and me, who have 4 year degrees. Other professions have titles that indicate degree of education (CNA vs RN for nursing, RDA vs DDS for dentistry, etc) I think the field of education should have similar designations. JMO...
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:14 AM 09-19-2016
Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo:
On the other side of things, it bugs the heck out of me that 20 yr olds with 2 year degrees are called Teachers just like my husband and me, who have 4 year degrees. Other professions have titles that indicate degree of education (CNA vs RN for nursing, RDA vs DDS for dentistry, etc) I think the field of education should have similar designations. JMO...
I completely agree.On the other side of things, it bugs the heck out of me that 20 yr olds with 2 year degrees are called Teachers just like my husband and me, who have 4 year degrees. Other professions have titles that indicate degree of education (CNA vs RN for nursing, RDA vs DDS for dentistry, etc) I think the field of education should have similar designations. JMO...
Leigh 02:55 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Pestle:
I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
No, my home is not like that. My home is a place where a child is nurtured, plays, and discovers things on their own. I do think that home and school are divided and that with the ridiculous expectations that the federal government wants to put on the under 5 set, that it should stay that way. Curriculum for a 6 month old is the most ridiculous thing I could imagine. I do nurture learning, I do, but I do NOT ever want to be classed as a teacher, nor can I see ANY benefit to it. It just opens my occupation up to more regulation and more demands of forcing kids into what they're not ready for. I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
I DO teach my kids, on THEIR terms. I don't require that they're doing anything by a certain age. When they government considers us teachers, it WILL be workbooks, lectures, and desks. These legislators have NO idea of how a child develops nor about how detrimental it is for kids to be forced to learn in such ways.
That said, I do believe that ECE is largely the job of the parent. I teach my own child, and it's fun for him. When daycare kids ask about something, I teach them about it. I give them tools to discover for themselves.
In the end, though, my job is to keep kids safe and to nurture. It's what my parents want, and it's what I wanted for my own child when I used daycare. I don't like the idea of planned curriculum for kids under Kindergarten, I don't feel it's appropriate.
Blackcat31 03:04 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Play Care:
*emphasis mine. YES!! You know what happens when day care employees finally get a degree?! They LEAVE because they can't pay off student loans making $9 an hour.
Until they address how providers are going to make the amount of money necessary to fund the degree, they are creating a bad situation.
Many of the college courses I took to earn my degree were out of pocket expenses I paid for. myself but many of them were paid for by my area child care QRIS program. *emphasis mine. YES!! You know what happens when day care employees finally get a degree?! They LEAVE because they can't pay off student loans making $9 an hour.
Until they address how providers are going to make the amount of money necessary to fund the degree, they are creating a bad situation.
It was incentive to enroll. I was monetarily rewarded for completion as well.
Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo:
On the other side of things, it bugs the heck out of me that 20 yr olds with 2 year degrees are called Teachers just like my husband and me, who have 4 year degrees. Other professions have titles that indicate degree of education (CNA vs RN for nursing, RDA vs DDS for dentistry, etc) I think the field of education should have similar designations. JMO...
On the other side of things, it bugs the heck out of me that 20 yr olds with 2 year degrees are called Teachers just like my husband and me, who have 4 year degrees. Other professions have titles that indicate degree of education (CNA vs RN for nursing, RDA vs DDS for dentistry, etc) I think the field of education should have similar designations. JMO...
totally agree!Originally Posted by Leigh:
I don't like the idea of planned curriculum for kids under Kindergarten, I don't feel it's appropriate.
lol! I have to have written and planned curriculum covering all indicators of progress/learning domains (including assessments) for infants. I don't like the idea of planned curriculum for kids under Kindergarten, I don't feel it's appropriate.
Leigh 05:43 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Many of the college courses I took to earn my degree were out of pocket expenses I paid for. myself but many of them were paid for by my area child care QRIS program.
It was incentive to enroll. I was monetarily rewarded for completion as well.
totally agree!
lol! I have to have written and planned curriculum covering all indicators of progress/learning domains (including assessments) for infants.
I'd hate that! I do work hard to challenge my kids-I have a therapist who I work with on emotional issues, I have a Physical therapist here twice a week, a home health nurse, birth to three, Occupational therapist and feeding and speech therapy here, too. I don't ever let a kid "slip through the cracks" here. The kids do learn here to do their best always, but I hate the government setting those limits for kids-they develop at their own pace, and that's how it should be. Our entire day is curriculum here, IMO. A walk to the park can be a science lesson, a game can be a math lesson, a book can be a lesson in philosophy. I will never support the government requiring standards for kids under kindergarten level. They all seem to get there on their own.Many of the college courses I took to earn my degree were out of pocket expenses I paid for. myself but many of them were paid for by my area child care QRIS program.
It was incentive to enroll. I was monetarily rewarded for completion as well.
totally agree!lol! I have to have written and planned curriculum covering all indicators of progress/learning domains (including assessments) for infants.
LysesKids 02:56 PM 09-16-2016
Originally Posted by Pestle:
I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
You and I are very similar lol... I homeschooled (much of it unschooled/Eclectic) and I am Montessori in nature for my babies ( yep inc the floor beds)I'm from an unschooling family and we do Montessori at home with our child, from infancy. It's wrong to think "home" and "school" are starkly divided, and "parent" and "teacher" are just as starkly divided. It's wrong to spend the early years distracting your kids with noisy toys and TV, and when they reach age 5 turn your kids over to a school system and tune out. It's wrong to discourage kids from learning by equating "learning" with "workbooks, lectures, desks." Home is where education happens. Every adult who guides a child's learning process is a teacher. And an adult who teaches at a child is no teacher at all.
I'm sure that's not what your home is like, Leigh, but I dislike the popular perspective on home vs. school.
Blackcat31 02:31 PM 09-16-2016
Nothing surprising about this at all.
QRIS anyone?!?! That is the whole point.... to require providers to ready the kids for school. To educate them.
Slowly most state rules and regulations are focusing more and more on EDUCATION components and less on care components.
Many states no longer list child care under the Department of Health and Human Services but instead redefined it to meet the requirements to be listed under the Department of Education.
This change is coming for everyone sooner or later.
it started off as "optional"
then required ONLY IF you do x, y or z
and soon it WILL be mandatory. for all.
QRIS anyone?!?! That is the whole point.... to require providers to ready the kids for school. To educate them.
Slowly most state rules and regulations are focusing more and more on EDUCATION components and less on care components.
Many states no longer list child care under the Department of Health and Human Services but instead redefined it to meet the requirements to be listed under the Department of Education.
This change is coming for everyone sooner or later.
it started off as "optional"
then required ONLY IF you do x, y or z
and soon it WILL be mandatory. for all.
Annalee 06:25 PM 09-17-2016
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Nothing surprising about this at all.
QRIS anyone?!?! That is the whole point.... to require providers to ready the kids for school. To educate them.
Slowly most state rules and regulations are focusing more and more on EDUCATION components and less on care components.
Many states no longer list child care under the Department of Health and Human Services but instead redefined it to meet the requirements to be listed under the Department of Education.
This change is coming for everyone sooner or later.
it started off as "optional"
then required ONLY IF you do x, y or z
and soon it WILL be mandatory. for all.
Nothing surprising about this at all.
QRIS anyone?!?! That is the whole point.... to require providers to ready the kids for school. To educate them.
Slowly most state rules and regulations are focusing more and more on EDUCATION components and less on care components.
Many states no longer list child care under the Department of Health and Human Services but instead redefined it to meet the requirements to be listed under the Department of Education.
This change is coming for everyone sooner or later.
it started off as "optional"
then required ONLY IF you do x, y or z
and soon it WILL be mandatory. for all.
I agree! Just got a mass email this week wanting my thoughts on what OP posted....Although the masses "get it", it doesn't mean I or anyone else "agrees with it". You are EXACTLY right.....It is only a matter of time till it is mandatory for ALL....At my age, I am in FCC for the long haul, it is who I am and have been and will continue to be but I would NOT encourage anyone to enter the child care field. Actually, I have entertained the thought of quitting many times over the past few years, but I have invested too much into my child care program.??