Early childhood educators fed up and fleeing the job
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2022
- Canada is promising 250,000 affordable childcare spots over the next four years, but with low pay and difficult working conditions, many early childhood educators are getting out of the profession. CBC’s Christine Birak visits a Toronto daycare to find out more about why the workforce is shrinking.
#ECE #Childcare #EarlyChildhoodEducation
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I can NEVER wrap my head around why the people who are literally shaping our children’s minds and essentially helping to raise them - are not paid well and taken care of? It’s sickening that teachers and ECE’s are not paid handsomely. Smh.
Could it be because they are mainly women?
Paid by taxes, and ELCs require a lot of cost to operate I'd imagine. It's a shame, they're one of many professions that deserve more than what is deemed right by society.
It's same here in the UK unfortunately 😞😞😞😞😞😞😞
they lie to you when they said that can be a career not really (I found a recently that my co-workers make less than me); and that co-worker have extra responsibility sometimes because she take the responsibily of a director ( I was shoked). This is happening in USA. I myself I am considering a major change in my University because right now I am working toward a Bachelor Degree in Human Development and Child Service, but I had come to realize that I am not going to be making enough money working with Children.
Meanwhile politicians and celebrities are being paid millions - they don't need that much money.
As a preschool teacher its sad that I can confirm the negatives involved with this career path. We dont care to be rich, we just want to live comfortably and be respected.
So true!
yes!!!
@Valerie Daryl a diploma in early childhood education which then you are required to register with the college of early childhood educators ($160/year), plus first aid and cpr level c, and we are required by the college of early childhood educators to complete professional development as well.
@Valerie Daryl If you are a lead teacher you are required to have at least and AA degree. If you work for a federal or state program you need a Bachelors degree, plus 21 hours per school year of professional development. So, it's no zero training.
@Valerie Daryl As a Director I am required to have a BA and adult management classes along with professional development corsesses. All Educators are mandated reporters which needs to be renewed every two years along with our CPR, preventive health and safety, nutrition and lead poisoning, also handling of hazardous materials. We are being regulated by licensing and the department of Education. The point is we can make more income in different fields with less energy on our part.
I did ECE for 7 years...never again. The kids were wonderful but the wage and the lack of respect sent me running!
I am going to be in this 7 years now, but really considering becoming a nanny instead
I went back to school to escape being an ECE after only 4 years. When I worked in childcare I made only $1500 per month, with no benefits or sick leave, nor did we have supply staff so we were encouraged to come to work sick. As a school board ECE teaching kindergarten I did the same amount of work as my teaching partner, worked longer hours, had more specialized training, yet only earned about one quarter of what they did, and was often disrespected or ignored by parents, admin and teachers who acted as if I was some sort of babysitter/helper. It was not worth it to earn so little that I couldn't afford a simple life for my family. The wage and disrespect towards ECE is disgusting considering how important and demanding the work is.
After only 3 years escaping ECE I am now earning 3x what I did before. It was 100% worth it to leave... but I do miss the work I did with children and families.
That is truly awful and heartbreaking. I'm sorry to hear this. I hope Provincial governments will wake up. ECE are so critical to this country and the new generations.
I just got into ECE but what did you escape to?
P⁰9
our society has developed an odd way about us, where the jobs with the most work and the most to deal with get paid the lowest wages. Manager's/Supervisors don't do their jobs, they relay it onto the staff below them, I've worked a lot of jobs over my life so far, a lot of entry level, and I have seen how the responsibility is left to the bottom rung staff members...Even issues I know Managers should deal with, as I've also Managed many places.
Just be glad you live in a country where you can quit if you don’t like your job…most people on this planet do not have the freedom you do…
Early Childhood Education is the most important educational age level that exists. My background is in early childhood education and am so tired of explaining how my profession is so important.
Children learn how to use their imagination, learn through play, learn how to get along with each other and learn to use their words to express their emotions. It is so sad how early childhood education is dismissed. It is so important.
I totally agree! When I first started in this field we were seen as glorified babysitters. That was 43 years ago. It feels to me that not much has changed. Science has since proven the importance of these early years and licensing bodies have significantly increased the regulations required for "quality early learning", instituted inclusive childcare, yet the lack of financial support and resources leave ECEs burnt out. This breaks my heart!!!
I’m an ECE. I teach pre-kindergarten. I do not make enough money to cover my own bills AND rent, so I live with my parents still. It’s really frustrating. I also have no benefits. I currently have no health insurance bc I just got booted off of my parents plan bc I’m 26 now. I’m really disgusted with how poorly ECE is treated in this country. It’s disgusting and wrong. It’s no wonder so many people are leaving the field. I am not far behind them, and it’s a shame, because I’m a damn good teacher who cares about these kids and their education, but I can’t keep living like this much longer.
Im a current headstart pre-k teacher myself. I agree and feel the same. We are such an important role in a childs development and unfortunately underpaid.
@Valerie Daryl where did she say she thought we deserved to be paid as much as teachers? We are asking to be paid enough to support ourselves: the absolute bare minimum
Same thing happened to me when I was in my 20's. I was initially asked did I have a husband to take care of my bills because the pay was that low! I believe becoming a fully certified Teacher is the way to obtain a livable wage. All my friends who valued security within their profession became nurses btw. Education is not for everyone just like any field.
Once it was time for me to live on my own I realized I couldn’t keep working in child care centers so I decided to become a nanny and I make significantly more than I did previously. If you still want to work with kids that might be an option worth pursuing.
The only way I have seen people move up is to return to school and aim to be an OCT. If that is not a choice for you, do anything that you think you will be treated better. Everyone I know says the trades always makes a really good living however many people do not seem to want to do them for they lack the sexiness appeal or the glamour. If I had a college aged kid who was studying ECE, I would ask them if the pay was not good enough to support themselves and move out on their own, what is the reason? I think it is sort of based on how money gets divided up in the school system. But that is just a guess. But regardless of what you say, OCT certified teachers do not refer to you as a Teacher. You should really recognize why. Teachers are paid based on different skill sets. For example, it took me about 8 years of training to identify a student who is ADHD, Slow processing disorder, language impairment or physical impairment. I took about 50K worth of coursework in Educational Psychology, Literacy Methods, Assessment coursework , Special Education training and more. So really, you need to see things in the big picture. I wish everyone like you a lot of luck and always go for what you feel is right and you deserve. No matter what you earn, no one should take you for granted either!
Thank you for choosing to cover this story! Unfortunately, I also have to agree with many of the comments made by the educators in the video. I am an ECE in BC with her undergrad in Psychology and the number of times I get told that I am simply "just a babysitter" is frustrating. I love teaching and shaping these precious young minds, but have strongly considered leaving the field after only a year or so. For me it isn't just about the pay or recognition, it is the lack of support from parents and the lack of parenting/guidance taking place in the home. It is very evident which children "rule the roost" at home versus the ones who are given positive guidance at home. It is also frustrating that parents can refuse to acknowledge that we will often see behaviors that they do not, given we often spend more of the child's awake time with them than their parents. Being an Early Childhood Educator isn't a job for the faint of heart nor is it a job for someone to make a living off of, but it is a calling .
In BC, ECE's are getting a much better hourly wage than 12 years ago --- Currently, I've seen ECE's being paid between $18 - $30/hour. $30 for an ECE Senior ED or Manager. We have top-ups ($4). 12 years ago, it was terrible. Only $15-$16/hour on top of dealing with a host of other difficult factors (Emotional, physical and often getting sick because of children's immune systems).
I hear you Jessica! As a director I see this every single day. Parents are afraid to set boundaries and we see this daily in their child's behavior. They expect instant gratification. I cannot tell you how many times parents pop in to view the cameras and then call me to say that I need to go tell one of my very busy educators to put their child's hat or mitts back on, (probably for the 20th time).
I have been in the field of ECE for 12 years. I realized long ago that this profession is most needed and the least respected because the majority of adults do not understand neuroscience and brain development (a necessity for most quality teachers) so the toys and bright colors give off the idea that we "just play". We're at the point where we don't (and never have really) done this work for pay, recognition, or respect. We are investing in our future society. These children that recieve care from dedicated loving people may have had a turning point in their lives because they attended a quality center. These children will be our future teachers, judges, lawmakers, doctors, etc. In this day and age, it just makes sense to invest in children, as we are seeing the consequences of misguided policies that defund education for the neediest populations.
I have to agree. I worked in a government run daycare back in the late 80's. There were so many kids. Many of them from low income families that lived at home in terrible conditions, including abuse and neglect. And we had our hands tied as to what we could do about it. I made it a year before I could no longer stand it and I moved on to private care for children. Something new in Canada. Live-out Nannies. I loved that and raised many children in their own homes for over 30 years, including my own two kids born when I was in my 30's. After that I ran a private dayhome so I could be home with my own kids. I did that until my kids were around 11 or 12 and didn't want a dayhome anymore. So I went to work in an office. Worst mistake of my life. If I could go back, I would have kept the dayhome and worked something else out for my kids so they would not feel like it was interfering with them (it actually never did because my dayhome was in the basement and my kids rooms upstairs and they didn't have to be with the dayhome kids. But they liked to hang out with the older kids their age. It was a wonderful set up. Anyway, our childcare systems across our country need more support, as to our schools. For those kids that need extra care. And to realize when kids just are not going to be able to integrate and need their own school, or at least a classroom. And better trained teachers and better paid 'helpers' that are really 'specialists'.
ECE is not an easy job, I’ve worked in the field for 4 years now, and genuinely love working with the children and being able to watch them grow and learn. It is really an under paid, under appreciated job. It’s wild to me that childcare providers, who put so much time and energy into working with their children (especially through a pandemic), get paid so little, especially when the cost of childcare is SO expensive. I have a BA and am working on a CDA and barely make above minimum wage. No one stays bc no one can afford to stay.
As an early childhood teacher educator, I can say that this country does not value early childhood education and does not understand how critical it is for healthy child development. The fact that centers want caregivers as they are often called, to earn college degrees for the pay is just absurd. Also, the fact that childcare and preschool education is so expensive in the USA especially for the middle-class which is not eligible for programs like Head Start, totally contradicts the fact that those who teach in the field are not valued. Why is early education so expensive when it is so necessary? Why aren't funds invested in making it affordable for everyone? Why aren't early childhood educators paid at least in the very high five figures and provided benefits? It is just sad. Too many governments fell to invest in people and programs that really make a difference.
Being an ECE left me in virtual poverty.
Some self entitled parents see ECE's as their personal nannies.
I saw neglect and abuse of young children at the hands of teachers.
😢😭
No doubt. Like the Indian Residential School system with many abusers assaulting kids? Predators would be drawn to it. Overlooking the low pay for the victims available.
Women get away with casual child abuse daily. I've worked in a Child Development Center as well
@@dmwanderer9454 I know how it happens, I’ve seen it firsthand. A colleague who was obviously very disappointed that she wasn’t able to climb the corporate ladder within our daycare. She became incredibly insecure and would kind of take her bitterness out on the kids whenever we’d be in stressful situations. Like not interrupting when two toddlers would literally fight, only when she’d ‘observed’ enough she would come between them. Or one time she spit water on a 1,5 year old as a ‘joke’ and quickly wiped it off of him. Now when she finally did get promoted to assistant manager, it only became worse with her new ‘power’. She would blatantly order the kids around in a rude way or make weird remarks about the parents and be passive aggressive towards the interns. It was awful.
The pay was so little for the amount of work pressure and ungrateful parents, this is why we rarely had workers older than 40 because nobody can keep such a stressful job where there seems to always be a shortage of workers. God I loved the kids, I would do anything for them but it’s hard when you’re left unappreciated and looked down upon, you start to quickly long for a better paid job that isn’t so physically intensive (because physical pains since you’re carrying babies and taking care of toddlers wasn’t uncommon).
👏👏👏 I've seen so much in ECE... one of the most horrific a girl with ASD crying on the playground and a teacher taking full buckets of cold water and throwing it at her. . if I told the parent it would be my word against the schools and I knew they would make any excuse for this horrible teacher that was there for years.... it 👏 is 👏 so 👏 sad👏 what happens in child care facilities.
I am an ECE diploma working 12 years.. I am almost near to disability. Dislocated shoulder and planters faciatis due to constant standing and physical demand. Lifting kids , diaper change, getting them ready for outside, cleaning bathrooms, and cleaning rooms during and after work.
The only people benefit from the job are the owners of the day care.
They treat us like shits. Not even give us pee breaks, due to the ratio issues. No benefits. No sick days, and the threat that 100s of new immigrants are ready to get out spot, if we can't work.
The love of children is what make us do this job
If this is in Ontario, right now Doug Ford is claiming he wants to bring in immigrants to take all the jobs so they can get paid almost nothing. This is the value in unions- to strike for fair wages and working conditions.
You are ABSOLUTELY so much more than a babysitter. Often the classroom setting are the most stable hours in many children’s day.
I also want to add that toxic work environments (lack of support from management, nepotism, rewarding staff despite of inappropriate treatment of fellow coworkers, not being paid for mandatory meetings/events)
are an additional factor in causing people to leave…
as an ECE teacher. I love these people. It is a pure labor of love. We , as teachers are planting seeds of knowledge at the earliest level.
I am a preschool educator, and from my 6 yrs of working experience, I can confirm this is the most challenging career path, full of stress; mental, physical, and emotional. Every morning I feel like I am going to war! After 5 days of full-time shifts, I sleep like a dead animal till Sunday. Multivitamins, regular gym, whatever fitness rules you are following, nothing will work. In this sector working not only with children but also handling work-politics, which is worst. I am exhausted. Being a single parent, it's not easy to look for a new career. I never recommend choosing this profession, not either to my enemies 😔🙏
Salalikoum sister, I just started this job a couple of months ago and I can't stop getting sick (the pink eye and the cold), from your experience do you know if that will get better after a period of time
I agree!! I am an ECE with a certification of level 2 and we def. Don’t get paid enough. Our job isn’t just watching children. We teach children, help them grow, love them, educate them, and prepare them for the next stages of life. We are teachers for young children.
It's heart breaking. Let's make a collective effort to protect these essential workers. Our children development depends on them
Caring for children properly is expensive; it should be. You can't have good care without paying properly for it.
Do you want to go to a surgeon who is poorly paid, exhausted, and frustrated? Why would you be okay sending kids to underpaid, exhausted, and underappreciated educators and caregivers?
Money is, at its core, a note of appreciation for someone's work and the degree of appreciation you have for that work.
And parents would be hard pressed to pay the fees it's a vicious circle.... And the proprietor needs to make profits
@@chiyenyumba7135 There needs to be an accord. Parents should expect a pretty big fee for good, critical service (unless childcare is considered pointless, like flipping burgers). If it is to be a public system, fine, but pay the workers in that industry- anyone who cares for young children - fairly per hour for their time and skillset. The ECEs are paid little more than McDonald's workers, and that is wrong.
Also, any stay at home parent would also fall into that childcare sector, with some caveats, for the same work during the workday (perhaps greater pay for greater qualifications - I.e. a stay at home parent with teaching or ECE skills is paid more per workday hour of work than one with no relevant skills for childcare). That makes a lot more childcare spots available in home and center settings, rewards all childcare workers fairly, and offers flexibility. Of course more funding for centre's may be justified to help handle overhead costs that are not perxse incurred by non-centre childcare workers.
I teared up watching this, ECE was my life for 4 years and I loved every single minute and every child I took care of with all of my heart and soul ❤ I HAD to leave the profession because I couldn't afford living... 5 days off a year, no benefits, no health insurance (and we get sick a lot), no 401K, 2 paid holidays a year and no pay for snow days!!!! I had to buy a lot of my supplies to ensure learning was happening in a fun and constructive way.
Childcare workers deserve more!!!!!
Hi Kristi, you mentioned you get sick a lot, i was told that I'll get sick only for the first year of work is that true, I keep having the pink eye and cold from children and I just started for a couple of months
@Bibisha Bouayad Hi Bibisha, I was also told you only get sick the first year or two and then you get adjusted to the germs. From my experience... I do feel the beginning is the worst for getting sick and you build a tolerance. But I still get sick and I've been working with kids for 5 years now. Germs just spread like wildfire in childcare settings. Are you following hand washing protocol and sanitizing? We always use bleach water to clean every surface. I hope you start to feel better❤
@@LiftedMoonLight thank you dear Kristi, I'm following the cleaning protocols, I m thinking to start wearing the face shield that hopefully will prevent me from getting the pink eye from children when they are sneezing, I love working with children they are a lot of fun, I'm also pursuing an ECE degree, I hope I get better soon, thank you again ☺
I highly suggest that you open your own dayhome, with few children. In canada you can do it privately. I did for 7 years and it was way better than daycare. Before I opened my dayhome, I moved from daycare to private in-home care. Not live in. Just go for the day for one family and go home at night. Like a live-out nanny. Some other's worked for 2 families at a time. But it worked. After staying home with my own kids for a few years, I moved to private dayhome in my own home when my kids were about to start school. Best thing I ever did. I have many fond memories of giving kids a proper care experience and the parents were happy to pay. I didn't take any subsidized kids because I was private. There are other options to taking care of children if that's what you love. Maybe try a different way.
Yes ! A teacher's assistant in the UK I can confirm this -we're treated like rubbish, parents talk down to us -were treated like their child's maids. Honsetly were so burnt out and exhausted by the end of term so we need the hoildays during Covid it really felt like we were forgotten
I can't understand how a parent will drop their child off to someone to care for and educate them and have no respect for that person. If the service was not provided they could not go to work and these parents don't have the patience for their children.
@@tocazuri4628 honestly it's sometimes awful the way parents/carers are just not polite to us. One time this nan was picking up their grandchild and was very friendly towards the teachers I come out with the child and the nan snaps at me (no hello) and asks where's their hat 😡😡. Parents/carers sometimes really look down on us Teachers assistants and we're respected even less than the teacher
I just wanted to give all the Teachers and ECE's out there A BIG SHOUT OUT! THANK YOU. Thank you for teaching my kids, thank you for being kind and sweet to my kids and for being there when I can't throughout the day! You guys are the best ! I appreciate u!
Just yesterday I was cautioning someone considering this profession. The lack of a living wage and support (even within the system) is crippling. Early childhood simply isn't valued in our society .
I’ve been an ECE for nearly 7 years and I’ve been thinking of leaving the profession altogether. We’re treated horribly on a regular basis, more so when we become sick or injured and are paid next to nothing. It’s just not worth it. I feel guilty for considering leaving because I care about the kids in my care and want to see them do well.
Undervalued, absolutely!!
These people have Early Childhood Education and some have Degrees in fields that are related to that.
My granddaughter, who is in a city far from me, loves her daycare. She learns so much and has friends and looks forward to going every day.
And I was a married, stay at home Mom!
I had also been an RN and studied early education in my Paediatric Rotation and was a piano teacher.
But that not common for stay at home Moms in my day. We were also undervalued with no pay, lol
I brought up 5 kids and I am 2nd oldest of nine.
I know how difficult a job it is!!
Wow! I’m homeschooling for this reason. Public education wasn’t great, too much overcrowding and bullying
@@bodnarova05 I could never homeschool. I could never be that organized. Plus I had a child with Tourette’s who apparently, according to his Psychiatrist ( meds for OCD and ADD. ) needed to go to school for social reasons.
My kids went to Catholic school, French immersion for some.
Between helping then with homework, in French and English and getting them ready for the Sacraments ( parent’s job - not the schools ) plus fitting in sports, dance, etc,
I would never have kept up.
I had enough trouble trying to teach them piano, lol
But we did extra curricular things ( mostly free stuff like my Dad had done for all his nine kids ).
I wanted them to appreciate music, the arts and anything else that was free. They had very full and interesting childhoods.
I grew up pretty poor, but my siblings and I managed to come out very well educated.
It was the atmosphere in our house - the library was our second home. It’s not the house you live in or the area you come from. It’s from what goes on in the family.
Many of our neighborhood friends came from alcoholic homes. We knew we were blessed. We wished they could live with us, but that doesn’t happen. 😕
@@pjsmith4369 check the stats, homeschooled kids do very well. The psychiatrist lied to you. I’d never medicate my kid either
@@bodnarova05 Well, you do what you feel is right.
Do you have a child with Tourette’s Syndrome? How many psychiatrists have you dealt with on your child’s behalf? We have had a number, for different reasons. Dropped by one, turned 18 and could no longer go to the clinic, found one at the University. Then was referred to the worst psychiatrist that I have ever encountered. He should have been struck off - we reported him, but he lied about everything.
My son is 33 and is still on medication for OCD and ADD. Doing very well.
Medication did not affect his growth - 6”1’.
Many people from my Church were homeschooling. It was a clique. I had to have my son in homeschooling for 3 months while we were changing schools. It was very depressing. No one would include him at their “ fun “ meeting times.
A terrible time for us both. And I had 3 other children to deal with - 2 were exhausting.
Do you think you can homeschool a Math genius? How about an alcoholic daughter who rarely goes to school and no law can force her?
So I guess we’ll agree to disagree.
BTW, my 8 siblings and I all went to school.
Between 9 kids and taking care of our Grandpa who was an invalid and with whom we lived, I doubt my Mom could have even considered such a thing. Cloth diapers only; think 1950 and 1960’s.
@@bodnarova05 Tourette’s Syndrome with OCD, ADD and Anxiety disorder is probably not in your world and I doubt you have any idea what is involved.
BTW, did you homeschool them for high school? Physics, chemistry, math, calculus, LA, French, etc.? All the matriculation courses?
They’re with us more than they’re with their parents. While they’re in our care, we have to tend to them as if we’re their parents. We feed them, clothe them, care for their injuries, nurture their minds. But we don’t get paid well enough to be able to do the same for ourselves. Not to mention the amount of training, certificates, and degrees we have to obtain to even be paid $12/hr. It’s literally an abusive relationship. Loving the job, being passionate about teaching those babies, but being abused by administration, and not being fairly compensated. It’s insanity.
I fully acknowledge that my son is with his ECEs more than he is with us. I'm so sorry that many other parents don't get that. It takes a village, ECEs are my village. I'm so grateful for everything they give him, every moment they spend with him. Without ECEs, he'd be light years behind, because I as a 40 year old working Mother simply cannot do more. I give gift cards and lunches to my ECEs, I always listen and take everything said very seriously. I never attack or accuse his teachers. Is there anything else I can do to support you?
I agree 100% when we do SO MUCH for these kids. my whole life changed dramatically... no money, to exhausted and poor for a social life, no benefits, no health care and kids coming in sick, a handful of vacation days... sometimes I see the kids eating lunch and want to cry because I can't even afford to eat lunch.... it needs to stop.
I graduated in 1998, and at the time my instructors told me the burn-out rate was 5 years. I wonder what it is now? I'm older and will have to leave the profession soon, as the physical toll is becoming too much. It has gotten much worse since 2020. I'm very worried about my future. I'm trying to save some money, to go back to school.
We are totally undervalued! It's been like this for the totality of my career. I graduated from college in 1984. Not much has changed. Now we have to pay dues every year for the College of ECE. They are not really a support for us but for the parents. We don't get the same respect as teachers in the school boards. Time for change. Thanks for shining the light on this.
When the guy who picks up my garbage each week who only needs a grade 10 education earns more than I do as an RECE and has benefits and sick pay something is wrong with the system.
It's a man's world that's what
Yes, it's the system which is wrong, because it requires childcare workers to have a college degree while what most parents need is a babysitter to watch their kids while they are at work. Most parents can't afford a nanny or a private babysitter but they still need to go to work, so they put their kids in childcare which theoretically is able to drive the cost down because one childcare worker will watch several kids at the same time. The childcare worker doesn't need to have high qualifications like a teacher because the kids are still very young. By the age of 4, the kids will start their formal education (kindergarten) and they don't need to be in childcare anymore (except for after school program where the parents mostly work until 5 or 6 pm). To qualify for this kind of job, one needs only some basic training, unless he/she specializes in taking care of special need kids. The system which requires unnecessary degree to be a childcare worker has caused overqualification and underappreciation in the field.
@@fluffyblanket1398 well still the garbage man with far much less qualifications than a childcare worker earns more.... And you are wrong to think a childcare worker doesn't need to be qualified. They actually do need a high level of qualifications in order to "know what they are doing" those precious early years are essential for children's development.
@Chiye Nyumba Picking up garbage is disgusting and embarrassing for most people. If garbage men are not paid well, nobody will pick up our garbage. While a pay increase for childcare workers will quickly lead to diminishing returns. Because the more parents pay for the childcare, the more they will think "Why should I go to work if all the money I make I spend on childcare? I better stay home and take care my own child." And in this situation, everybody will lose out, because parents can't earn money and childcare gets no money. I myself am a mother, so I know taking care of children is often difficult and demanding, but it doesn't mean one needs a degree or formal education (except if he/she wants to work in a specialization, like becoming a therapist for children). I only received a little training at the beginning of motherhood, after that I can do everything myself.
@@fluffyblanket1398 you as a mother taking care of "your own" child is different to someone doing it for a job.... Hence the need for qualifications. At the end of the day the childcare worker buys in same shops and pays same bills as the working parent, the garbage collection man. Iff we worked we looked at it as "embrassing" would you say a job that involves taking care of people's toileting needs is "embrassing" such as care work... But still carers earn less than our example here if garbage collecting guys. If a parent is in a job that they can quit look after theitmr child then perhaps the better because young children fair well in the care of their own parents. However, that doesn't mean child care workers won't have jobs because they will always be families that can afford. Childcare work is a huge responsibility as a job.
Agreed! I was required to have a degree, a teachers permit ,many hours of professional development, hours of experience, and go through 3 interviews (one with people from the district of Los Angeles)
And i got paid one dollar more than minimum wage
Some fast food places make more than us.
So wrong!
It’s such a rewarding job, but you can’t live on minimum wage and no benefits. The job comes with so much responsibility and worry. As an ECE, I always worried about the kids, even when I wasn’t at work. I planned activities in my sleep, and it was hard to turn off. If the saying “you get what you pay for” is true, don’t parents want to make sure that their children are taken care of by professionals who make more than minimum wage?
You nailed it hard.
Why would parents, governments and the society at large, impoverish and insult those who stake it all, to care for the children, whom they claim to love so much. ? ? ?
It is just deplorable. I am someone who has been in the field of education for the last 18 years and I firmly believe that what pre school teachers do for the kids is not something that can be done by everyone. It is a shame that they are underpaid, undervalued and called babysitters. Take care of a kid under five everyday and then we will talk.
Sadly that’s why I left the profession. Very undervalued and underpaid
This is so relatable. I have 3 undergraduate degrees and I’ve been teaching in an intense Pre-K program for 18 years and I’m looking for another degree in a different area. There’s no healthcare or sick days but we teach in highly stressful environments with children who get sick and parents who dodge calls to come get them.
Sometimes kids are I’ll and the directors are scared to call and upset the parents. They are so afraid a parent will withdraw a child and place them elsewhere so it’s a numbers game to maintain enrollment. They constantly enroll more students but don’t hire more teachers.
I buy cleaning supplies and have a list of cleaning duties throughout the day. I spend hours on a weekly 4 page lesson plan but my assistant teacher is being used elsewhere so I have to constantly adapt my plans.
There’s no help from administrators who hide in their offices on Pinterest or playing video games to avoid helping in the classrooms.
My income in these times of inflation is barely cutting it. Student loan relief should definitely be granted to ECE workers. We were some of the first to go back to work during the pandemic but always overwhelmed and overlooked. It has been emotionally and physically draining. Sometimes when the kids are having a tantrum I feel like crying with them. I love the kids and what I am hired to do but all of the extra should be criminal!
Undervalued, unappreciated, disrespected and taken for granted! RUN PEOPLE!
Interesting seeing this happen (early childhood workforce shortages) in Canada, Australia, Germany, etc. When you undervalue early childhood educators, you undervalue children.
France too. There s a shortage. They pay people a little bit above minimum wage ,you need a degree and certifications. They want you to speak English and don't pay you enough. I make more in factories with a better work environment. I can take my breaks, it's safe. We have bonuses when we are more productive. They need to stop treating women like crap. We deserve a living wage.
As a former RECE it’s not only about increasing the pay scale but most of all the conditions most of these educators work under eg more governmental funding stability and support within the field for programs that provide support for our various families within the communities they serve.Reducing class sizes and increasing support within programs is much needed to provide quality care for each child effectively.I left the field due to health reasons which was triggered in part by some of the stressors and physical effects of the job within the field for so many years.While I loved and valued the children & families within the communities I worked with,the lack of support from the system did not help to motivate or promote one to feel valued or supported in some instances.The overall big picture is to promote the health and well-being social emotionally,developmentally and academically for our children to create well balanced adults for generations to come within society.How are we to accomplish this if the early years of our children development is simply ignored and not valued within these programs.When the children are not given the chance to thrive due to lack of quality care in our childcare centres by ECE’s who are not given the support they need to do so?
This profession has been misunderstood so I'm happy to hear that FINALLY these ECD'S are taking their power back by walking away from their professions. How long must one be abused and taken advantage of ? I never understood why they are getting paid such a LOW salary when these are our guardians / teachers for our precious children ❤ They are angels on earth that must be appreciated and respected 🙏
What worries me about this is there will be a desperate need for educators. And since the qualified loving caring ones have been burnt out and underappreciated and forced to leave, I fear that the system will let just anybody become a teacher. The unqualified random weirdos to come in and now in charge of teaching the next generation.
This is scary.
Agreed. The Government needs to pay educators more OR start assistance program for a parent to stay at home to live comfortably until the child is school age if they can't provide proper educators. I feel like everyday our society gets worse I think we will all rebel at once one day and hold the Government accountable.
My school district is starting to accept people with just a high school diploma (minimum used to be a Bachelor's degree) because of how few people are willing to teach. And I definetly had my fair run in with terrible teachers, and witnessed all of the good teachers either change to schools with better pay or just flat out quit. It's horrible how undervalued educators are here in the U.S., and apparently in Canada too.
That is exactly what is happening already. I had applied as a receptionist at a preschool but was offered a position as an assistant teacher and absolutely loved the time I spent with the infants in my care. I also had seen the burnout from staff who had been there longer (only three people with over 3+ years there) and could not believe how little the directors cared about the staff. I had to leave the environment as the state set ratios are very large and wasn’t receiving help when asking questions.
I agree, then next parents will become stress because classrooms may have to be combined or closed in order to run the centers.
Oh it begun in the pandemic
Every daycare I've seen here is run by random people. There's no structure, just getting by. The good people get pushed to the brink on hours
The importance of early childhood is so under-rated.
I agree with you all and am a teacher as well. Thank you to all the lead teachers, associate, assistant , floaters , and support teachers, and education coordinators for EVERYTHING that you do at work!!!!!
I was also an ECE in the United States and the pay is so underpaid. I love the philosophy of ECE, love working with the younger age group because we don’t just watch them but teach them so much. I also left the career because it demands so much but not paid enough. Maybe one day they will increase the wage.
Being an Indian, I always thought that Early child educators are underpaid in both government and private sectors of South- Asian countries. Never knew that it's happening in First world countries as well. Sad!
I can feel the pain as I am one of them
The situation here in Australia is the same. A road worker who holds a stop/slow sign can earn per hour, sometimes double the wages of an ECE who is at entry level.
I live in Melbourne, I used to be a ECE worker, and used to earn 24$/h. Used to work so much that I burned out. Was crying almost everyday out of stress. I decided to quit.
Now I work as a babysitter and earn 35$/h. Flexible hours. The parents are lovely and understandable if I can't go. Best decision of my life. It's a shame though, I loved my work, but living like that was humiliating.
In the USA is exactly the same thing. A McDonald's employee makes $17.00 per hour flipping burgers or making french fries, but an ECE teacher's assistant or sometimes even the lead teacher start at $14 or $15 per hour. And the parents see you as their personal baby sitter or maid. The administrators don't care whether teachers have the appropriate materials to teacher. Many times we have to spend our some of our small pay check to buy supplies. So, my advice to young people is to never get into Early Childhood Education or they'll starve.
@@Mar-lz5xn I’m a lead ECE of a Montessori twos class. I have a BA in Social Science with an Education Concentration and a MA in Early Childhood Education leadership. I only make $12.75/hr. It’s terrible how little they pay us.
ssjup81 where to you live? That is a horrible wage. I live in Canada and it’s not great but I made 12.75 an hour 25 to 30 yrs ago. As a Montessori teacher here you would be in the $25 plus per hour.
It really interests me how ECE are treated in other parts of the world.
@@jodibirdsall3139 Central Virginia in the US. There was another job I could’ve taken at about $18/hr but it was an assistant teaching job, no benefits and no guaranteed hours. Military base position.
It isn't just North America... it's happening in Australia too. We stand with our brothers and sisters in ECE (I'm studying my Bachelor of Early Childhood, at a university), to improve my work prospects. I have been lucky to be employed by a very caring group of Educators here in Melbourne, but many don't get treated or paid well in other organisations. I feel your pain. Please, I know it hurts the hip pocket, but stay on - you really do make a difference
My heartbreaks, they deserve way more
Are they forced against their will? Don't take the job & complain. Either do the job or don't. -Probably an unpopular opinion, but if no one takes the job change will happen.
@@chutch332 lol…so if no one takes the job what will happen?
Supply & demand. They will pay more to attract talent.
Early Childhood is critical for any kids and adults. However, very few people and parents realise it. Before educating the kids, you need to re-educate neglected, money orientated faulty parents and grandparents. That's what the Japanese child carers do.
Unfortunately our society is based on money and success is you making most money. Sad, sick.
Japan is a horrible example of how to run society
I’m thankful for them. They’ve helped my babies so much.
We are much more than babysitters we are educators who is guiding and caring for young children, inspiring children to develop their creativity, art, dramatic play, math, science,social studies, geography, biology, music, circle time, learning how to be independent and a lot more, repetitively. We are the secondary caregiver and educator. For that being said, we deserve more than minimum wage! We need at least $25/ hr to start!
The crazy thing is I'm making way more as a babysitter than when I used to work in early childhood education (10X the work and taking care of way more kids). The pay is ridiculously low for the things we have to do on a daily basis....still miss and think about the children I used to work with though ❤️
You are doing great job 👏. Taking care of many kids are very hard. God bless you 🙏 ❤ 🙌.
We are not baby sister we are much more than that.
Kudos to you all.
I am interested in joining your team.
Kudos ones again
I can’t imagine going to university or college to get paid a little over minimum wage!? No wonder no one wants that job.
People aren’t thinking before shelling out the money and going into debt. Going into trades is smarter nowadays
@@bodnarova05 Yes, but then what about the children who will miss out because of a shortage of ECEs? The government needs to think and value the profession so that people will not have to leave it.
@@NeverEnough1 hopefully more mothers and fathers will be able to educate their own children then, and start coop groups. Children learn best from their parents and grandparents. Maybe more daycares will be available
@@NeverEnough1 who fault is that. Not their
@@bodnarova05 Honestly, how exactly is that supposed to happen and on what money? Do you know how much the work force would be impacted by a mass exodus of working parents? Parents are doctors, nurses, teachers, ECEs, cashier's, lawyers, scientists, construction workers, law enforcement, principals, therapists, engineers, chefs, servers, flight attendants, psws. Every service that you need and benefit from, parents work there.
Who is going to give them money to stay home and educate their kids and still be able to keep a roof over their heads? The government? The government does not even want to pay the people who are in the workforce educating the children now.
I closed my childcare center last year after 30+ years because of BURNOUT! And I had to find a higher paying job so I can build up some retirement benefits. I love teaching but hugs won’t pay the bills!🙁
Meanwhile, parents are paying an arm and a leg for daycare. So if the caregivers themselves are not getting paid, who is?
I hold three degrees (AA, BA and an MA) in Early Childhood Education. I am certified to teach N-3 in Pennsylvania. What we are being paid is laughable. I have to have side hustle just to make ends meet.
It's a man's world..... sadly we are not valued
Historically, early childhood educators have been undervalued and underpaid. They are mostly women...
@@jasmine6975 that's the same in care homes for elderly.... Women's work always undervalued
@Chiye Nyumba I'm sure you are absolutely spot on. What a crying shame.
I was an ECE for 3 years. It was absolutely horrible. The salary was bad, the parents looked down on me, I had to work long hours and some weekends too, I never got a raise or any benefits, the principal didn't care about us and I never got a "thank you" from anyone. Parents would gossip about me and tell lies just because I gave them constructive feedback on their children. It's ridiculous.
I hope that was not in Canada.
I worked at a preschool for 10 years and loved it! I agree with these early childcare professionals that job is very stressful and so rewarding at the same time. I wish we were compensated more. I recently left that field to become a flight attendant.
Most under valued, under paid and under respected professional profession. 🥺 I began this journey in 1979 and little had changed. Wages often hover just a bit above minimum wage for the entry positions even though these people have a year of college and yet the responsibility of caring for the children of our world. Very sad. Hard to keep staff and hard to recruit.
It is definitely a very rewarding career emotionally to those of us that like to teach and see our little children blossom. Yet, it is a very demanding career. We care for the most precious possession parents have its such a responsibility. We guide them and help them develop their skills. We are nurses, therapist, referees, cooks, janitors, and a lot more all rolled into one. We work with the children and also with the families. It is a hard and can be demanding and stressful. We also take a lot of work home to be prepared for the children the next week. Yet, I feel we aren't as appreciated and the pay is just really bad. There's jobs out there that pay so much more and aren't as demanding. We do it because we care for children and their future but realistically we need to be compensated a lot more. We also have families and ourselves to care for. We need an increase in wages all over.
It is indeed a shame to HUMANITY, that for all the sacrifice and scaled up schedules, ECE teachers are permanently treated like they don't matter at all.
And society is already facing the wrath of these terrible mistakes! ! !
That would be a nightmare job for me, working with young kids. The mess, the loudness, the songs, the pay! I have so much respect for these workers.
Next do an interview with Educational Assistances in Canada. Shine a light on the actual physical abuse they go through on a regular basis by students, how poorly they are treated by the school admin and teaching staff, and the extremely low pay they receive, which is less then what an ECE makes. Special education is a broken system in Canada and it needs to be talked about.
This is so true we are very under appreciate with the wages and expectation we encounter on a daily basics so sad
We ARE teachers! We are Aldo counselors for kid & adults , parent educators, referees, plumbers, electricians, cleaners, artists, musicians, actors, thespians, carpenters, interior designers, planners, organizers and more. I work at a day care that goes all year long. I've been Bitten, spat on, scratched, kicked, toys and chairs thrown at me, had a broken bone. But I still go back every day because I LOVE my job! Some days are harder than others, but it's those moments....those aha moments when a child finally gets a concept they've been struggling with....those moments when a non-verbal child says their first word, when the difficult child comes running to you to give you a hug and tells you they love you...those moments of wonder, awe & delight when they discover something new.....or those moments of uncontrollable giggles when you act silly right along with them.....those moments of tears when you say goodbye to them as they head off to kindergarten.....those moments are so breathtaking and you are so grateful and thankful that were able to be a part of it all!
They perform such an important profession : helping shape our future citizens. They deserve far better.
Thank you to all the Early Childhood Educators out there. ❤ there needs to be more advocacy around providing support to ECE.
I’m a kindergarten teacher in Indonesia and I have my master degree 2 years ago. And I’m so relate with this video. We are here to help the children grow, to become the great human being in the future. But of course there are some pros and cons like explained in this video. One thing I know for sure and I never regret is that, I love being kindergarten teacher and involved in their part of life ♥️
At some centers I worked at, teachers couldn't start acruing vacation hours until after their first anniversary on the job.
I value ECE workers so much. I tried working with EC and I just couldn’t… it was so hard and I did not last at all. You need lots of passion and patience to work with kids that young, and kids in general honestly. Kids are messy, loud, annoying, and gross and you have to be able to deal with that. When I was an EC worker, all the kids ever did was scream and yell and cry and I couldn’t handle it at all. Not to mention that the job also involves soooo much cleaning. You have to be an extrovert and “on” ALL DAY. Some kids will never listen to directions and throw tantrums. I truly respect ECE workers for taking care of our kids and being kind/patient/involved while we’re away at work.
I did the same with my job, after becoming a red seal journeyman plumber and journeyman class b gasfitter. I have been unemployed for the last 4 years after my job made me permanently disabled and WCB denied my workplace injury claims. I receive no compensation or retraining.
KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AWAY FROM SKILLED TRADES JOBS IN CANADA!
Go to college and find a safe and sustainable career!
Ece workers need to be appreciated are Essential workers and higher pay and should not be forgotten its a vital just as health care workers.
I found this as I am thinking of leaving the field since seeing I can make just as much at inn and out. It is so sad considering the years of experience and I have my site supervisor permit. Even if I got my BA in the field it's not worth it.
Agree. As ECE myself, I’m working while working on other things too so I can leave later. I can’t imagine myself doing it and be able to save enough money to retire someday.
This is such an amazing insight especially when knowing the issues are world wide in the early years sector. I have a degree in ECE in the UK and here people with an actual degree are limited in this field as most people only go to high school level and do a level 3 and it is those people who are thriving into leadership roles when people like me and many other people are struggling to get into these leadership roles as we went to university so we don’t have the years of experience that people of the same age have when they went straight to the job from high school. University took 4 years for me and it was only in my final year I started working in nursery settings excluding work placements but people my age who didn’t go to university would have had the 4 years of experience in the field going straight to the job with less education. It is very sad and the pay for university graduates is shocking getting paid less than people without degrees, I am struggling to leave my parents house especially by myself. I personally would not advise a person in the United Kingdom looking to go to university to do a ECE degree it is pointless all you need is your level 3 it seems like clearly in this profession level 3 is better than a level 6.
Also staff are encouraged to come to work when they are sick as there is such shortage of staff, we don’t get paid for being sick even during covid if you had the virus you didn’t get paid
This hits the nail on the head, I have been in the field 10 years, its been very challenging. This is a great job financially IF you are just starting out but now that I live on my own and have bills, without my partner I wouldnt make rent. Things need to change from the governements side of things.
God bless all these beautiful people and the work they do! ❤️
As an ECE teacher I can attest that the work is hard but rewarding. That being said something has got to be done about the pay and long hours. We should get the same pay, and time off as other teachers.
I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to raise all 4 of my children from the safety of my own home💜🙏💙
Been in ECE for almost 7 years and I'm ready to walk away :( no work life balance and pay is abysmal :( I'm lucky to have been in positions where I receive benefits like insurance and PTO. But it's still not worth it. It's scary to begin looking at other types of jobs because I'm not exactly sure what else I know how to do besides be a teacher lol but I am SO unhappy so I know it's time to move on.
My relative who manages a large daycare wants to retire early. The feds have created a disaster with no hope of repair.
I can totally relate being an early years teacher for about 9 yrs in Kenya the pay is pathetic...the paper work and lack of resources and lack of respect at times can be really insulting..you grow academically,emotionally but teacher burn out and lack of pay can make anyone want to quit this line of work.
I studied ECE and got out of it as soon as I graduated knowing the stigma and little money. It's unfortunate but ppl often say I'm just a babysitter that got to me so now I'm doing something else.
I agree. I am always spoiling my sons Daycare teachers.. I know daycare is expensive but these girls are tsking care of the most precious thing i have in this world. They are amazing and patient. I hope all parents can bring them treats, gifts and a nice christmas bonus$ atleast on their bdsys and end of the year. cause they truly are doing sooo much. Long hours. I respect them so much.
Wow! As a teacher, we love it when parents appreciate us. Even a simple “thank you” will make our day!
I am studying ECE. The study is really hard and vast. And this article has left me thinking if it would be worth!
Same here unfortunately😢
Don’t do it, the poverty isn’t worth it … you will never get financially ahead . I’m in it for 10 years and still grossly underpaid. If I were to do it again , I would go into a more lucrative career and work with young children through volunteer like a church Sunday school or something, but not as my main source of income .
Really think about it. Its draining, just being honest
As someone who studied it and left it don't do ece not worth it. All my classmates left ECE no money.
even the textbooks tell you that it's underpaid and undervalued work, so it is only worth it if you have a passion. i'm lucky that i have a supportive partner who will let me work part time, as that is as much as i can handle with 12 toddlers at a time, while i study for a degree in another field where i will be truly valued for the effort and hard work i put in.
Very important work!!
Sadly, this is also what is happening in Northern California where I have worked as a college-educated and certificated ECE teacher for the last ten years in a city-run program. My hourly wage is less than I would make working at the local "big box" store, I do not receive any benefits, and my hours are so limited for the fiscal year that I have to take unpaid days off so that I do not go over my allotted hours (somewhere around 920 for the year). I would be living far below the poverty level if I was the only wage earner in my household. That's not to mention the stress involved in teaching and caring for children who are in group care for the first time in their young lives, with the most difficult aspect for me, by far, being that of working with the inevitable two or three children every year who have, for various reasons, serious behavior issues. I quit my job in May and will have to reinvent myself. Oh well.
These teachers are amazing! I hope things get better!
Yep. I've done this job. Should be paid about 200 per hour.
Lucky to be an ECE living in BC where we have the provincial government wage enhancement program. Can't rely on it though, as we don't always know if we will receive those funds on time. So I just have to rely on my paycheque, and with the rising cost of living, it's almost impossible... I often do on call babysitting jobs with an agency on the side...
I worked at an ELC for 5 years and went back to retail. I have a bachelors degree and CDA and was making 9.75 an hour. That was after 5 years and with a raise. We work all year round. There is no summer break, there's no christmas break and no fall break. I had 3 and 4 year olds with 16 kids in my classroom and an assistant teacher. Mostly everything in my classroom, I had to buy with my money. The kids, I love them with all my heart but the wage and respect and everything else wasnt there.
This is a brutal field, physically and mentally. I don't even have my degree yet but I feel like I have exhausted myself already with simply the pursue of a career. Yet I don't want to so anything else with my life. It truly is one of those things where you need to really love it to make it.
The job conditions in which we had to work are really frustrating, unfair and very discouraging. But, no one does anything to improve them.
God bless these ladies!!! ♥️
I just finished my 26th year teaching Kindergarten in Chicago Public Schools. Remote learning last year when they were at home, really made this year hard. Lots of SEL lessons!
Retirement next year!!🎉
The average person now is staying in the boards in Ontario 29 years because they have to fund a child's college tuition. Hope you enjoy retirement!
@@darlinspaces thanks!!
I used to be in early childhood industry for five years. High number of students, high medical leave rate, huge amount of stress from the expectations to deliver curriculum perfectly left me exhausted. I went to software engineering and didn't look back for a while.
Bottom line. These ECE's are predominantly women. Therefore, they are under valued. Occupations predominantly held by women are always under valued and under paid.
Truth!
Target employees make $24.00 an hour. We should at a minimum make this. We need a union.
I agree. I've been a dedicated preschool teacher in a mixed-age classroom for ten years and don't make anywhere near $24 an hour....in California.
Pay is low for eces and no respect and is not enough to live on especially now inflation