29 April 2011
Makes sense
I like how the same people who think children in a large family don't get enough attention have no doubt that that the hired hands at a school or daycare provide completely satisfactory personal care and attention to whatever number of children spend the majority of their waking hours there.
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16 comments:
I never saw that connection before, but it's so true.
So so very true!
As a former day care worker, I can totally agree with this and state the obvious as well: children in a large family are much better off at home with the parents who love them and can discipline them - and almost always are at a better ratio than children in day care too!
"The Mother is a world of mystery. She loves; she does all kinds of interesting things throughout the house; she sings; she reads; she loses her temper; she may be as peaceful as a summer evening or a whirlwind of fury. But she is always the mother, and her love for her child[ren] even when it is shot through all the flaws of her character, will be a human love. It may be far from perfect. But it will be something real.
"Now take the child from that mother, and place him somewhere else. Not in another home, among different people who love him--and will be sources of mystery to him too. Place him with--here is the crucial word--a professional. Place him in the context of a money making--here is another crucial word-- industry. Take him to these places with tellingly abstract and impersonal names, like the Early Learning Center, or the Tiny Tots Academy. Place him with professional caregivers, rather like the people who will walk and feed your dog at the kennel, only much nicer. They will feed the child, will parcel out the child's day with appropriate Learning Activities, will enforce the scheduled Naptime, and will send him home clean, well-fed, generally contented, runny-nosed, patted, played with, and unloved."
--Anthony Esolen, Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child
As a preschool aide/sub, I concur. It's a really great school, but it still can't compare to (even a cranky) mom at home. :)
Dare we extend this line of reasoning then to consider that our LCMS congregations are doing a disservice by offering child care services along with our pre-schools? It's certainly a ministry model that is prevalent.
I'm glad that our church has this option as it enables us to bring the Gospel to children who might otherwise be void of this chance . . . and yet, we are offering professional services and we do make money at it. Just wondering . . . .
Yup. I was a teacher. No way I could give all of those kids the attention they needed, and I had "small" classes.
From my experience, most every parent expects that a teacher should be able to give their child(ren) the same level of care attention they can at home. They don't doubt it until they feel their kid has been ignored in some way. They, they're furious. But instead of choosing to see to their children themselves, they give them to some other caregiver so they cycle can be repeated....
I don't teach anymore. Too much guilt over not being an adequate caregiver for children who aren't mine.
Anon, I often ponder the same thing. I put my mind at ease by telling myself that if they'd be in daycare somewhere else anyway, then certainly a Lutheran school or daycare is the better choice. Perhaps just not the best available choice.
??
Regarding daycare, my own kids have had to be there. We are in our final few weeks of it now, and finally, finally I can stay home with them. For me, even if our Lutheran school had a daycare program, I would have stuck with a home setting.
Anne - that book has been sitting in my drawer for a month now. I've wanted to start it but haven't got around to it yet. Great quote.
What book is it? I love the quote.
lol, question revoked. sigh.
Ba dum bum...CHING!
Hey, that Esolen book is on my wishlist, and now I know why. ;)
After doing something particularly naughty, my 5yo was in tears about his punishment---he was convinced Daddy was going to send him to daycare! (Note: This has NEVER been a threat in the past--I have no idea where he pulled this one from!)
The above anonymous post re: daycare punishment was from me, Jody S. It didn't give me a chance to type my name :( Sorry.
Bahaha. So true.
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