For decades, the market has failed to solve the childcare shortage in US, which has driven up prices beyond what many families can afford, even as wages remain too low in the industry to attract more providers into it. That is why we need an industrial strategy for the care economy.
Thank you for this excellent piece. I would like to use this info as basis for local OpEd.
I substitute taught (really just assisted the teacher) at a local private Montessori preschool today. Kids were age 3-6 in my class. A great school yes, but, just looked up how much they charge: $16,000 from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm—and $4,000 more for the option to extend until 5:00. So—$20,000 for a work day!!!! Onviously as this article pointed out, only children of wealthy parents can go to adequately staffed and good quality preschools, really. It has dawned on me that what is unfolding is that only wealthy parents can provide a decent, caring education for their children. And all the kids who can’t access this care/education seem to be entirely invisible to them?
The disconnect borne of greed baffles me.
The only solution seems to be that private schools would not be allowed to exist— to be replaced by public school choice, which must be expanded to provide parents with the higher quality care and education that ALL parents want. That’s the only way wealthy parents will start to care about more than just their own kids?
Thank you for this excellent piece. I would like to use this info as basis for local OpEd.
I substitute taught (really just assisted the teacher) at a local private Montessori preschool today. Kids were age 3-6 in my class. A great school yes, but, just looked up how much they charge: $16,000 from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm—and $4,000 more for the option to extend until 5:00. So—$20,000 for a work day!!!! Onviously as this article pointed out, only children of wealthy parents can go to adequately staffed and good quality preschools, really. It has dawned on me that what is unfolding is that only wealthy parents can provide a decent, caring education for their children. And all the kids who can’t access this care/education seem to be entirely invisible to them?
The disconnect borne of greed baffles me.
The only solution seems to be that private schools would not be allowed to exist— to be replaced by public school choice, which must be expanded to provide parents with the higher quality care and education that ALL parents want. That’s the only way wealthy parents will start to care about more than just their own kids?