A Profession in Crisis

Monika Obermeier
Sep 8, 2018 · 4 min read

I see early childhood educators screaming to be seen. Among the chorus, there is often the strong messages that educators are not merely babysitters but that they are so much more. I know this to be true and I believe that most parents that use child care services would also agree.

At its core, child care is often obtained to enable parents and caregivers the freedom to work, learn or do other things during the day, while their child is cared for. Child care is often viewed primarily as a service to provide supervision and care, as many parents would not use care if they stayed home or had more family support.

There is nothing wrong with this fact. Actually, it is rather beautiful!

Child care keeps our economy running and enables our parents to provide for their family. If all the child care centres closed for a week, our cities would come to a screeching halt. Parents would need to scramble to find care for such young children who are difficult to leave with “just anyone”.

Which is exactly why child care is known to parents to be so much more than just supervision. It is hard to leave your baby, especially when they cannot yet speak, in the care of someone else. It is a huge leap of faith. When parents drop off their children or peak in before pickup, they are able to let out a sigh of relief. They see their child thriving — safe, happy, and well cared for.

ECEs make it their job to care deeply about the children. But they also do so much more and this is where the screams come in. They have a vital and important job with so many layers and considerations. They prioritize learning in a unique way that focuses on the whole child — who they are and who they are becoming. This includes supporting the development of skills across all areas which are necessary for future learning and success. Things like self-confidence, self-help skills, initiative, problem-solving, questioning, social skills, empathy, independence, vocalizing needs, and a positive attitude towards learning — to name only a few.

But parents and society don’t always recognize this and ECEs feel unseen and undervalued. They are continuously needing to stand up and say, “Look at all the amazing work I do and how incredibly important it is for our children and our world.”

Well, I see you! Yes, YOU! You are unbelievably talented and skilled. You are doing all that complex amazingness that only you are able to do. I see you with your sore backs and knees, but your bright smiles. I see you with your unlimited patience and excitement. I see your big hearts and minds. I see your unlimited curiosity and creativity.

And I think many others see you too. I think your families see you, beyond their immediate surface need for child care and the rushed goodbyes. And I know, the children seen you; even though they are so young that they will likely forget you. The lessons they have learned will help shape their brain in a way that empowers their future, and you planned and supported them through that.

Unfortunately, you chose an undervalued and underpaid profession and I apologize for that. I see your struggles to make ends meet and live in the lowest tax bracket. I see you shaking off your worries about bills so you can be your best self at work. I see you struggling with your decision to follow your calling and passion, at the expense of you (and your family’s) financial security.

This needs to change! You deserve better and our children deserve the best. We will continue to fight for more recognition and decent wages. In Ontario, the AECEO is at the forefront of this fight (see, Professional Pay & Decent Work or The Decent Work Task Force’s Report). But in the meantime, thank you for your sacrifice and service. Thank you for all the amazing that is you.

Monika Obermeier

Written by

—RECE — Writer — Speaker — Educator — Leader — You can find more of my work at https://mobermeier.wixsite.com/home

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