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En español: The California Child Development CORPS (en español) |
This article originally appeared in the November-December 2007 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children. Use the Children's Advocate in your work! Feel free to reprint this article, as a handout or in your own publication -- just credit us (see above) and be sure to send us a copy. The California Child Development CORPSEarly childhood teachers and providers organizing and advocating for better pay, benefits, job conditions, and professional respect. By Amanda MontagueCorps participants tackle important topicsWhenever teachers and providers get together—and especially at the recent annual meeting of the California Child Development Corps—several issues stand out. Participants talk about compensation, licensing regulations, respect, and how important it is for educators to have a voice on these issues. United voice: “Teachers have to speak in a united voice,” says Angela Williams, a teacher and program coordinator at Emeryville Child Development Center, “so legislators can hear solidarity in the field. (We need) to show the importance of (our) work. A lot of people don’t understand early childhood education, so they don’t focus on what we’re doing.” Williams is a long-time teacher and has been with the Corps for three years. Compensation and training: “Compensation for teachers must stay at the forefront,” says Sara Hicks-Kilday, staff support to the Corps. “We need teacher voices in the development of competencies and Early Childhood Learning Foundations. And we need to constantly remind policy makers that teachers need to be paid in order to get the education required and enough to stay in the field.” Licensing regulations: “Licensing is a big issue,” says Katy Kenshur, a long-time family child care provider and president of the San Diego County Family Child Care Providers’ Association. “It’s really important that providers know the regulations. Providers can get cited even if they didn’t (know about) new regulations.” Build the Corps: “Recruitment is important to help get the word out about a bill or a change in licensing requirements,” says Kenshur. She has been active in the Corps for the past year and has helped recruit several participants. “I’ve gone to conferences and talked to people about the Corps,” she adds. Williams is also working to recruit more teachers. “We just finished a workshop and had over 50 participants come. We are very hopeful that (they will) become advocates,” she says. Respect: “We need to get away from the stigma of being seen as babysitters,” says Williams. We have the most precious job in society, helping develop these young minds.”
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If your county is not listed above, contact Sara Hicks-Kilday at cares@caccwrc.org, 415-808-7327.
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