Sources

http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/legislation?id=0273

Accessed: 2/22/210

This Source is an institutional source. Speaker Nancy Polesi discusses the Recovery and Reinvestment act put in place by Obama February 17^th. This act was put in place to save and create jobs, boost our economy, and stabilize it. This source breaks down the act into all its different parts. The reason why this article is important and related to my topic is because the act shows $2 billion dollars that are going towards child care but it does not say what specifically for but merely for there to be more child care available to parents. What about more education and beneficial childcare? The fact that the explanation of where the money is going is so open ended can be problematic. The government needs to know exactly where the money is going and exactly what it is doing at each other their destinations. The government might have a plan for it, but the public does not know it. After doing much research I still have yet to find a source that tells precisely how this money is going to benefit childcare programs outside of making them more available. This source clearly shows that the government needs to team up with other advocates for this cause and make the best and most beneficial plan for the childcare system.

http://readthestimulus.org/

Accessed 2/22/2010

This source is an institutional source. This site breaks down the stimulus package into each section and states the purpose of it, where, and how it will be affective. This source is important, much like the previous one because it is the beginning of the movement towards a change in the childcare system. It is important to see where this money is going because it clearly points out that the money is not going towards higher education of teachers. This source is extremely important in understand where our nation stands. The needs of our country are vast but it is broken down into each individual area that is receiving money from the stimulus. The complete package will use up $819 billion dollars. The need for readily available childcare will use $2billion dollars for it. Also $20 billion will be used in elementary and secondary school renovations. These two sections of the stimulus can possibly be used together to renovate not only the public schools but also the early childhood education programs within childcare facilities. Not only does this source show where the money is going but it also sheds light on where our country is headed and the need that exists. Now more than ever children need a better more stable education to become a beneficial and function member of society.

http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_4a7c8206-a5a3-11de-aa92-001cc4c03286.html

Accessed 2/23/2010

This source is a journalism source. This article from the Missoulian, an online news journal for the people of Montana, shares concerns about the childcare system in their state. This article points out the concerns of wait-lists, student-teacher ratios being too large, but most importantly the fact that any facilities struggle to find and keep qualified staff. With out qualified staff the entire system fails. Even if the class number is large, and the funding for equipment is low, the teaching staff if educated enough will be able to make a beneficial program.  I chose this article, even though it is based out of Montana, because it shines light on issues that the majority of our states deal with. After doing my interviews I found this issue to be more and more of a problem. Besides having a well-educated system there needs to be highly educated professionals who have the passion and desire to be teach our youth. If care facilities cannot keep professionals to teach their programs there must be a problem that we are not seeing. If our childcare facilities were stable, supported, and beneficial to the children attending them then getting teachers and professionals to stay with and implement the program easier.

http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/early-childhood-education-child-care/

Accessed: 2/10/2010

This source is institutional. This source was extremely helpful when I was figuring out my ‘should’ question. This organization advocates the importance of early childhood education. Reading through this site it became clear to me that if these programs as so beneficial they should become more readily available. This site reveals that only 3% of eligible infants are enrolled in such education courses. This made me consider the $2 billion dollar stimulus and how that can help make more affordable early childhood education for our childcare system in America. These organizations are also highly respected and trustworthy. Some parents are hesitant on sending their children to these types of programs because they are unsure of how they will be treated and taught. This issue would be ceased due to the care and passion these organizations have for making education exactly how it should be. Organizations such as these should team up with government issued care facilities to further spread their advocacy for early childhood education. These organizations are strong and have a large network on contributors and supports that would be more than willing to team up with the government to get early childhood education a priority and readily available. This source is also great for teachers and childcare professionals to reach out to if they are not receiving the proper funding from the stimulus package.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/18/AR2010021802919.html

Accessed: 2/23/2010

This source is citizen/community. A co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation wrote this article featured in the Washington post speaking about the change that she has seen from the benefits of the foundation and the need that she still sees in education. The article is titled “Education reform, one classroom at a time”. It was clear to me in this article how much the education system in America lacked. We have high fail and drop out rates and terrible funding that results in the cut of programs and teachers. This is the other major reason I believe that turning regular day care centers for working parents into more education based learning facilities by implementing higher education for program leaders is the best thing we can do with the stimulus money. Not only will it turn these programs into a more hands-on learning environment but also it will help the success rate of students as they embark on higher education. Also receiving press about this issue from a high profile source and foundation is great for activating this cause. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation promotes everything needing in the childcare and education system we have in American today.

http://earlyed.newamerica.net/blogposts/2010/42_states_cut_aid_to_children_near_future_looks_even_worse-26145

Accessed: 1/16/2010

This is a journalism source. This article was the fist article I read the helped me form my ‘should’ question into what it is today. Stimulus funding from the recovery and reinvestment act may not be properly distributed for childcare purposes. Each state was receiving a certain amount of money for their childcare programs but some important issues were still occurring. Problems include waiting lists and reduced staff at child care centers and preschools; increasing class sizes in public schools and lack of education for childcare professionals due to budget costs. This article helped me see clearly where the problem in the childcare system was and opened my eyes to the fact that it is a funding distribution issue. The recovery and reinvestment act money cannot just be thrown at the problem; it needs to be funded properly and in the appropriate way. This is where I began advocating that the money go to not only increase the availability of childcare but to also get higher education for the professionals to create a better and more productive system. The distribution needs to be even between states to make programs more educational and hire well educated professions to be teaching the children. When this happens we might finally see a change in the system.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964729,00.html

Accessed: 2/22/2010

This source is a journalism source. Is Day Care Bad for Babies? With the way the system is today, yes. This article shows how sticking your child in daycare is not beneficial to them and actually holds them back. Children need to be interacted with and stimulated the appropriate amount for their age. Placing a small child in a care facility that does not have an educated based program will hinder their learning abilities. This article proves my point that education should be the main focus of such facilities. With out a more stable educational system within these facilities children will most likely struggle in the years to come in their elementary education. The fact that there are articles with titles such as this exploit the fact that the government has failed. Programs such as these should not only be highly available to working parents across the nation but also be well structured and beneficial for the children. These children are the future of our nation. Even though our country is currently struggling economically we cannot let the education of our future leaders to go to waste.

http://www.naeyc.org/

Accessed: 2/23/2010

This source is an academic source. The National Associate for the Education of Young Children work to improve the well being of young children. They mainly focus on the quality of education and developmental services for children from birth to the age of eight. This source is extremely active in their goals. I chose this source as an important link because their mission statement as well as the work they do help to make my ‘should’ statement a priority.  They believe in educating young children and help work with developmental programs. An organization like this would work with the government to help get aid and money to go towards these programs. It is programs like these that must become activists and help get their goals into reality and using the government’s help. The $2 billion dollar is set aside to help childcare but associations like these should be trying to help advise and bring awareness to how this money should be spent. Also whether childcare systems get aid from this package or not the NAEYC should work to help build their programs into every care centers.

Janice Wang

Former employee of the Joe Paterno School and current teacher at Beaver Acres elementary school

Contact: 5035483118

This source was extremely helpful when doing this project. All along I had been reading articles about the child care system and how it was flawed as well as how it affects children entering early elementary education. Before speaking with Janice I had proposed the idea on my blog that all major companies such as Nike have a child care system attached to it. I thought that this would solve the problem of care unavailability and would be convenient for the parents who could even visit during their lunch hour. Janice explained to me that while working at the Poe Paterno School she saw the opposite was happening. Because their children were being taken care of at their work place parents would work extra hours and come in early because they could just drop their child off. She saw no interaction with employees and their children throughout the day and explained to me that this childcare system was just as flawed as the rest of them. This opened my eyes to the real problem; childcare systems do not need to be placed in different areas, the programs and education happening within in them needs to change. Janice also being an elementary school teacher at Beaver Acres commented on how obvious it was which children had had some form of early childhood education and how important it is these days that kids get some form of education before elementary school to aid their years to come in public school.

Madeline Barrett
Employee of the Moss Street children’s center Eugene, OR

Contact: 5035473963

I sat down with Madeline Barrett to discuss her everyday life at the childcare center where she works. This interview was interesting and informational because she works in the midst of the problem. Much like my interview with Janice I had only read news articles and heard people opinions of the childcare system and what they think would work and make it better, never speaking to someone who actually deals with the problem first hand. Why this source was extremely helpful was Madeline helping me see that the money from the stimulus package could not just be thrown at the problem. A system needs to be put in place that actually benefits the children rather than keeping them complacent. Her experience working at this children’s center showed her that the money needs to be placed in higher education of the professions so that they can create a more educated program for these kids and be better equip in knowing how to handle the developmental stages of children.