Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Why does a name define you?
I really never got the concept........But either way does your title define you? is saying you work in a daycare really an ego....... you are a teacher but what do we call as they say a "real teacher" to work with the education department you have vacation days as well as summer months off along with regular school hours when the kids leave you do.........but in a childcare facility your doing more work for a lesser pay there are not much vacation days and you walk out the building with your clothes full of stains from baby food or dirty little fingers........ Is saying "daycare" really an issue?
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Hello, I am a Head Start Teacher in Crystal River. Where do you teach? How long have ou been working there.
ReplyDeleteA name doesn't define you. What you do consistently defines you. If you are educating children in a professional manner, then you are a professional educator, regardless of the age of the student or the time of day. Is it ego that causes distaste for a name? I would hope not. If it were, then there are a host of inaccurate stereotypical references likely to resurface if we decide that it's just people's egos that are being harmed. The offense occurs when the name specifically contradicts the descriptive elements of what it is describing. Childcare worker, childcare professional, early childcare professional, preschool teacher, early childhood teacher, or just plain teacher and a host of others are correct because they imply the correct purpose, identify what is done on a consistent basis and place emphasis on descriptive elements which define the profession. Incorrect references to early childhood educators as "daycare workers” are offensive to their recipients for the same reason other stereotypes are unacceptable; because of their inaccuracy. It isn't the day that is cared for, it is the students and in the process of doing so, we educate them hopefully helping them to develop to their full potential. In order to properly educate, one must care, but it can happen day or night, really. Does calling me a daycare worker change anything? Not for me individually. However, as a society I would hope that we have recognized the harm in misused references. In fact, that may be the very reason you are working in the conditions you are. I have benefits, vacation days and decent pay, and my employer would NEVER refer to me as a daycare worker. Perhaps if we started insisting that we were at least titled appropriately, conditions would change for the better for all of us and most importantly, the students we serve. After all, isn't improvement the common goal for all?
ReplyDeleteHello Brenda I am a substitute at Child Developmental Services in the Skylark plaza I have only been there 3 weeks but I have recently moved from New York and have been working with children for 10 years.
ReplyDeleteWhat age do you like the best to work with? I really enjoy the 3-5 year olds. I want to be the teacher that they remember and that makes a difference. I wish you the best in your future with CDS and HeadStart.
DeleteHello Natalie I really like your response and I respect how strongly you feel about my blog. But lets think outside of the box lets speak on Early childhood/Headstart not the education system and how so called "childcare workers" are respected for you as an individual you feel your pay as well as many other things are decent but I am sure at opne point you had to be worried if budget cuts where gonna be a part of your program to say you feel comfortable with this system and you feel your title should be respected of course but where does most childcare workers try to move onto obviously everyone wants to work in the "education system" because decent can't cut a household. But to have a title and feel recognized respect has to come from the source meaning those who have talked about cutting "Childcare Centers" or working the day after Christmas because thats the only way to keep a program running or no more summer vacation when the public schools are out so where being forced to run like a "Daycare" I don't know I have been in constent battle with this topic lolo and honestly nothing has changed my mind on using the word "Daycare" only because there are 1000 of workers who dont know if there coming or going......
ReplyDeleteWith head start, you have an opportunity to build a great foundation for these kids. I would never doubt a head start teacher and their abilities, because I know I couldn't do it. You have my respoect.
ReplyDelete