Kids thrive in childcare centres
MetroValley Newspaper Group - Maple Ridge News
02 Apr 2008
Opinion: Verity Howarth, Maple Ridge

Editor, The News:

Re: Bill recognizes unborn children (Letters, March 26), Freedom of Choice (Letters, March 26).

I would like to challenge L G to carefully re-examine her views on childcare and to look for consistency among the other life choices she makes on a daily basis.

Specifically: does she send her older children to institutionalized education (private or public school)?

Does she accept institutionalized medicine and emergency services when needed (hospitals, fire departments, police forces)?

Does she attend institutionalized religion (church)?

In our society, public institutions like schools, hospitals and fire departments tend to promote quality, professionalism and fairness in service. Why would we not want that for every child's education and care?

If children (whether your's or someone else's) need care beyond a parents' care, why would we prefer them to be cared for by amateurs when we could employ college-trained early childhood educators instead?

Especially considering that the long-term academic and social benefits from attending good quality early education programs have been empirically demonstrated time and again.

Claiming that proponents of a national childcare program intend to force all parents to send their children is intentionally inflammatory rhetoric.

Our intention is to use public resources to make good childcare available and affordable to every child who needs or wants it. This would allow real men and women who choose to work, as well as those who must work, or those who do not work but still see the benefit of good quality options for childcare.

Calling childcare centres "large daytime orphanages" is again deliberately emotive rhetoric. …

Most childcare centres and preschools have very small class sizes, especially when compared to the average classroom in an elementary school. They are full of toys, books and play centres. Most children thrive with the social experiences, crafts and learning opportunities they receive. I usually observe children rushing into their childcare centres to meet up with friends; it is often the parents who are "abandoned" in the coat room.