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What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

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Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#41

Post by DoreenMichele »

sudobash1 wrote: post #40
oh_sigh wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see "personal life" as much larger than "childcare with friends". Can your wife go mountain biking? Can she attend a lecture that coincides with nap time? Can she delve into a tough book?

> Can your wife go mountain biking? This seems a silly question. During the workday, neither spouse can go mountain biking. Outside of the workday both spouses can go mountain biking. This is true whether one or both spouses are wage-earners.

Humorously, cycling with a child safety seat was absolutely something I did on a mountain bike while I was a full-time mom with small kids. I did it until I was like 8 months pregnant with my second child and my belly was too big for me to get on a mountain bike with child seat attached.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#43

Post by NoZebra120vClip »

Contusion3532 wrote: post #21
hammock wrote: post #9

If it looks anything like government and union-run public schools, not good. For example, Chicago public school teachers get paid more than any other school system in the US (from $60k for a new teacher to $114k for the most experienced) and the schools have some of, if not the worst educational outcomes: in 2019, 1 in 4 7th graders could not read at grade level

Maybe the problems in Chicago's education are outside of the scope of the teachers?

Problems in educating young children often begin with the family at home, who don't care, won't participate in discipline, and raise a hue and cry every time a teacher wants a better life for the child.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#44

Post by Auracle »

Contusion3532 wrote: post #21
hammock wrote: post #9

If it looks anything like government and union-run public schools, not good. For example, Chicago public school teachers get paid more than any other school system in the US (from $60k for a new teacher to $114k for the most experienced) and the schools have some of, if not the worst educational outcomes: in 2019, 1 in 4 7th graders could not read at grade level

Maybe the problems in Chicago's education are outside of the scope of the teachers?

I think it’s a bit of A and B.

Children aren’t a blank slate when they get into school. Genetics, parenting, and culture all have an effect.

That said, the fact that teachers that make tenure basically can’t get fired for lack of performance is ridiculous. Imagine if you just had to be a good little coder for a few years, and after that as long as you put any amount of effort in at all you wouldn’t lose your job.

I certainly had teachers growing up that were terrible at their jobs. I also had some that were pretty good. Most were mediocre to the point where I don’t think they’d stay employed in a regular non-union type job. At the very least they wouldn’t be getting performance raises.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#45

Post by NoZebra120vClip »

oh_sigh wrote: post #31
everdrive wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife is a homemaker (and soon to be mother) -- and trust me, she's got a much bigger personal life than I do. I'm not nearly as good at socializing as she is, and it shows. A job is definitely not required for a personal life.

I agree it isn't required, but providing full-time child care prevents you from doing a lot of things. If you consider "personal life" to be "socializing with other moms", then yes you can have a personal life. But that is not everyone's dream of a personal life.

Try looking up "homeschool field trips"

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#46

Post by tyoma »

hammock wrote: post #9

If it looks anything like government and union-run public schools, not good. For example, Chicago public school teachers get paid more than any other school system in the US (from $60k for a new teacher to $114k for the most experienced) and the schools have some of, if not the worst educational outcomes: in 2019, 1 in 4 7th graders could not read at grade level

Chicago public school are extremely effective given the population they have to teach: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/05/upshot/a-bett...

The core problem is poverty, not the school system.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#47

Post by googlryas »

asow92 wrote: post #30
oh_sigh wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope, just the opposite. I don't like the concept of making work friends and keep a strict separation between the two. I was talking about the ability for the "primary caretaker" to pursue their own interests, many of which are precluded by the act of fulltime childcare

Do you have a kid?

Posting on another account because I'm rate limited. Sorry dang.

Yes, actually, a 3 year old and a 1 year old.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#48

Post by googlryas »

VoodooJuJu wrote: post #15
oh_sigh wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So basically one person, usually the woman, gets to not have a personal life.

I know that corporate-sponsored media would have you believe your work acquaintances are your family and your one true source of friends, but it's just not the case, and if you drink that kool-aid, ultimately it's you and your children who lose.

No, it's just that child care doesn't turn off at a set time like most jobs do. Your schedule might be 6am-8pm, with multiple periods in the early morning while you're up.

I say this as a person who has been both a full time programmer and a full time care giver. Being the care giver was far more frazzling and non stop compared to my job. I found it far easier to pursue personal interests when I was working full-time compared to parenting full-time. Pretty much my only time without a kid in my life would be late at night, and even then you need to stay in the house to watch them, and you may be too tired and sleep deprived to actually be able to pursue an interest if it is pursuable in your own home.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#49

Post by googlryas »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #34
oh_sigh wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a whole slew of activities that you cannot do if you're providing full-time childcare, especially for, say, under 5 year olds who aren't in school yet.

You can say the same thing about working full-time at any job. But you want to list a few for me so we can actually discuss this instead of you just dismissing my opinion as if 'nuh-uh' is a meaningful rebuttal?

Well, I've done both, and I've found parenting harder. I guess that's just my take.

Were you raising children or just "homemaking", which doesn't necessarily imply childcare?

You really can't think of any activities/interest people pursue that you can't do while toting a 2 year old with you? That's something I didn't think would require enumerating.

Re: What could Universal Early Childcare look like?

#50

Post by DoreenMichele »

googlryas wrote: post #49
DoreenMichele wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can say the same thing about working full-time at any job. But you want to list a few for me so we can actually discuss this instead of you just dismissing my opinion as if 'nuh-uh' is a meaningful rebuttal?

Well, I've done both, and I've found parenting harder. I guess that's just my take. Were you raising children or just "homemaking", which doesn't necessarily imply childcare? You really can't think of any activities/interest people pursue that you can't do while toting a 2 year old with you? That's something I didn't think would require enumerating.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37128205
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