Dear BC Early Childhood Educators,
As you are no doubt aware the BC government recently made a historic announcement that puts our province on the path toward universal child care. While the BC child care plan is indeed a positive step and a significant milestone, there are also many reasons I find myself feeling both cautious and somewhat concerned about what’s coming for child care in BC. And I know I’m not alone in my thinking.
For days we’ve been hearing just how important it is for us as Early Childhood Educators to ask questions, to share our thinking and to speak out about the things that concern us related to the new BC child care plan. I plan to do exactly that — and I hope you will too.
All of that said, while the new BC child care plan and what it means matters — there’s actually something that matters even more to me:
You.
As someone who has been involved in the field of Early Childhood Education in BC since I was 13 years old — and who turned 50 this past summer — I’ve been around long enough to know just how historic this child care plan really is. And to also know just how fragmented our field has become.
In ECE, we often talk about sharing our voices and about the value of working together. Additionally, we also talk about ensuring that we hear one another and the importance of respecting varied opinions and perspectives. And while I generally believe this to be true about the culture of our field, I do know that there are still many ECEs in BC who don’t feel heard or equally valued by colleagues from within our very own field. I say this not as a criticism but as an observation. And because it has been representative of my own experience on more than a few occasions over the years. While there are a multitude of reasons why this is so it doesn’t make it right — or easier for those who feel unheard or less than valued.
I am ever so hopeful that the new BC child care plan will afford us the opportunity to not only strengthen wages for Early Childhood Educators but also the ways we understand each other and work together — no matter our role or the day to day work we do within the field.
Now — more than ever — it is essential that we do everything we can to understand, hear and value one another as professionals. All of us. Together.
We need each other — no matter what type of child care we work in, what our role is or how long we have worked in the field. Every educator matters.
And so it’s for those exact reasons that I want to emphasize just how important you are as an individual and as an Early Childhood Educator — or future ECE. And how much your voice matters. I’m well positioned to tell you these things because it took me almost leaving the ECE field to discover just how much my own voice mattered AND for me to decide to stop being quiet. In making that decision, I also came to understand how I could support and encourage other Early Childhood Educators to find and share their voices too. So believe me when I say this:
You matter. You are valued. Your opinions are important. And your voice is essential.
Most importantly . . . we need YOU in ECE.
You offer experience and expertise that is unique to the very person you are. Nobody can replace that.
All of this matters — because you matter.
So hold onto this thought — the voice of every single Early Childhood Educator matters. We need you to ask questions and to share your thinking about what this new child care plan means for you, for your program, for the children and families you work with and for your community.
I believe in who you are as an Early Childhood Educator and encourage you to use your voice and your experience to let key decision makers in government, advocates and our professional associations know what works AND what doesn’t work about this new child care plan. Speak up and speak out about the things you feel are important for our field and about this move toward universal child care.
While I can’t promise you will always feel heard or completely valued by everyone you encounter during your ECE career — I will always do my best to make sure you understand that nobody but YOU determines the value of what you say or contribute to the field. Nobody.
Don’t ever let anyone make you doubt for a second how essential you are and how much your voice matters.
So — please read the child care plan, participate in information meetings and then express your thoughts to the government, ECEBC, the Minister of State for Child Care, your local CCRR or your local MLA. And don’t forget that you you can also express your thoughts on social media — in word, audio and video. Just know — your voice is essential. And nobody — and NO organization – can replace the power of what you have to say. Write emails, make phone calls, post content and have conversations about the things that you love or are concerned about related to this new plan.
And if after reading all of this you find yourself feeling stuck, hesitant, nervous or simply not knowing how to organize your thoughts about what’s happening feel free to contact me and I will be delighted to chat with you and help you figure out the best approach to sharing your thoughts and your voice.
Remember — you matter. And so does your voice and what you think about this new BC child care plan.
Thank you for that….for being so inspiring and positive in a time whete many in this field are feeling excitement mixed with unease.
Thank you for that….for being so inspiring and positive in a time whete many in this field are feeling excitement mixed with unease.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Roberta. Hearing one another is just so very important.
Beautiful! Thank you Jane! I’m excited for change, for ECE’s and families, but so scared for what it means for a small place like mine. I love what I do but I can’t help but worry this could be the beginning of the end in some ways. I hope it’s not the case. Thank you for writing something so meaningful and uplifting!
Thank you Candice. It is a time of mixed thoughts and emotions. Please continue to share your thoughts and your voice about this new plan. You matter so very much.
I have been in the field for almost 14 years. I love what I do and I know I make a difference to many children and families. However, I struggle at times because I don’t feel valued by parents, other professions and society. I am cautiously optimistic about a universal child care plan. I have always been a strong advocate for the 10 a day plan and am a member of ECEBC. Now I feel frustrated! There has been no commitment to addressing early childhood educator wages. This continues to make me feel devalued. Teachers are valued in the school districts by parents and government. We have all heard the government say how important the early years are but yet our work is not valued. I am not sure it ever will be and that is a tough way to feel.
Christine — I understand and I hear you. I too feel concerned about the issue of wages. It is such a very important issue. I am hopeful that the government will directly address wages sooner rather than later. It will be necessary to do so if they truly want to succeed with the plan they have put forward.
I also understand the struggles you speak of with respect to feeling valued. While we often tie our value directly to wages — please always remember that our value as ECEs is so much more than that.
Thank you for the work you do and for sharing your voice. Please continue sharing your thoughts. It matters so very much.
What a lovely article you’ve written. It truly encompasses what many ECEs are feeling and expressing. Its a time for celbration yet a time for caution.You’re exactly right that every voice matters in the direction of the universal child care plan. Our voice is have always matter and I truly believe it’s the number one reason why we are moving in a forward direction we are today. ECEs have demanded change not only for ourselves but for the families the children and the communities we work in living and play in. This time of change is going to be really messy so our voices matter more than ever, we need to have a strong voice and let those decision-makers know what’s really needed as things move forward. I know that they can’t do everything overnight. This is the first time in history we can come together as one strong professional body because we’re the ones who have the knowledge and understanding of exactly what all the details mean for the sector. My hope is everyone takes this opportunity to have their voice heard. Standing strong together!
Thank you for your comment Emily. You are right — times of change are often messy — that’s exactly why the time for ECEs to speak out is now more than ever. Plus — supporting one another is essential. Truly there is nothing more important.
Thank you Jane for the validation and encouragement. I, too, have mixed feelings. As of yet there are no specifics about how the plan will be implemented. I have been in the field for forty years and have been operating a private group licensed program for twenty-three years. The past three years have been very challenging with exponential rent increases and direct competition within our building. I am very concerned with the new plan and whether the amount of money provided will cover the overhead, should I choose to opt in to the program. Not opting in does not seem to be an option as you would be put out of business. I await further information but it appears to be a biased approach.
Hi Melinda, I hear you and most certainly understand your concerns. It is a wait and see situation in so many ways. That said — I am concerned about the divisions I see and feel happening. It’s just so important that we work together — and ensure there is room for all voices and perspectives. As much as I support the concept of universal child care — I don’t believe there is “one right way” to deliver it. We must protect choice as well as quality. And we must also all look out for the wellbeing of each other. We are all in this together.
As an ECE/ITE that’s worked in the field for over 20yrs, I am very sceptical about wages changing anytime soon. I recently moved and doing so, had to close my multiage centre. I thought oh well- every town has child care, I’m highly qualified, should be easy to get a job…… oh sure- at $15/hr!
The privately owned centres can not compete with the non profit, yet its the non profits that actually “have” money. It’s a joke to call privately owned centres (especially with infant toddler programs) a FOR profit centre. They are anything but.
Like 2 other women I know- both with their ITE, I changed career paths. I applied to go work in the schools. I’m making good money, get benefits, and great hours. It has always baffled me that Early Childhood EDUCATION does not fall under the Ministry of Education.
I also think that the way “in home” daycare gets funding needs to be re-evaluated; instead of receiving less money because “you’re a family daycare” look at the individual operating the childcare – if THEY are a licensed educator, then they should get the same funding as group centres.
I operated my daycare out of my basement suite- I was LICENSED as a multi-age group centre but my Capital Funfing had me rated as a “family daycare” It was sooo frustrating.
I really hope I’m proven wrong and that wages are improved, otherwise- all those spaces that the government is promising will be useless as their will be no one to work them. 😢😢😢😢
Hi Julie, Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you are proven wrong too. We for sure need wages to be increased. And we need lots of thought to be given to the fact that all types of child care matter. I really hope the choices parents have in terms of types of care doesn’t decrease as a result of this plan. I am sorry that you have experienced the challenges you have and I understand why you ultimately ended up within the school system. We all want to make a contribution but we also need to earn living wages. Thank you for the work you have done in the field over the last 20 years. Your experience is invaluable. I hope you are able to express your thoughts to the Minister of State for Child Care. Your story is an important one.