Do you think it's right for high schools to offer daycare to it's students that have children?

RoverRoad
**************************************************
08-23-03, 03:08 AM
niccincoogol
Sure.

I don't think it should be some mandated facility set up in all high schools that wouldn't immediately utilize it - this may be misconscrewed as some kind of incentive and/or escape clause for the high schoolers who may become pregnant, have the kids, and need such a facility. But if the need is already there, sure, why not, at THE HIGH SCHOOL KID'S EXPENSE as opposed to the tax payers; those (irresponsible IMO) kids shouldn't be barred from high school (in an extreme example), and the opportunity to have their children on the HS campus with them may be beneficial in some respect.

Again, my main concern with this is that it's not thought of as an outlet for birth control mishaps, but rather as an opportunity to make the best out of a tough situation.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 08:31 AM
grumpybear
Thats a neat idea! My highschool had a daycare program there, that other people put there kids in and we students took care of them, but I don't think that we were aloud to have our own kids there, but I could be mistaken.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 08:45 AM
clarebear
I think it would encourage students to finish school. Many teen parents drop out because there is no child care. I know it is sad to think about but it is a fact of life today... teens do have babies. At least being able to finish school would give them a chance.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 09:04 AM
MrsS
Yes, such a service should be available for students and the Daycare services should also be available to the school staff....Teachers are so underpaid that having childcare available at work would be a major blessing.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 09:15 AM
Yankees15
I would concur with nic 100%

Mrs. S, the teachers here make almost twice what the average taxpayer makes, and the school taxes are raised on average about 5% each year. We taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill for child care for the teachers. We can barely afford all the unfunded mandates New York State shoves down our throats now. I would hate to see more student programs cut so teachers can have free day care provided for them.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 09:19 AM
MrsS
Yank, That is very unusual...in California and here in Montana a teacher with one child who is the sole breadwinner in the household is right at the poverty line....When I was in college, I applied for state medical assistance, and ran into one of my old teachers waiting to pick up food stamps.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 09:25 AM
Yankees15
Our district starts them at about $35,000 plus benefits. Also, the district pays for them to get their Masters Degree (another unfunded mandate from New York State.) In 5 year's time, they are making close to $50,000 plus benefits.

I think a good teacher is worth their weight in gold, so I am not begrudging them the salary. Problem is, in the private sector, most people have had to pick up the increased cost of health insurance over the years, but our teacher's union won't hear of that. Some of our teachers need a reality check and need to find out how us people in the real world have to make ends meet and keep ourselves and our families insured. We are a rural community, and the property taxes here are becoming a real financial burden.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 09:37 AM
clarebear
This isn't about teachers salaries.

There could be an added program at the school where students could work an hour in the class for an elective. That would take care of the funding.

I'm sure some of those lottery dollars originally allotted for the school could actually be used. Roll Eyes

There are too many dropouts because of no childcare.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 09:42 AM
Yankees15

quote:

Originally posted by clarebear:
This isn't about teachers salaries.

MrsS mentioned that teachers where she is are underpaid, and I replied that that is not the case everywhere.
**************************************************
08-23-03, 12:51 PM
Sherasi
I actually agree that Daycares would be very beneficial for both students and teachers. I also agree that students who have children in the daycare would take turns participating in the care to "pay" for their use of it (great idea, btw). Teachers could pay a nominal fee to cover the cost of placing their children in it also.

There are some Vo-tech schools that have programs to TEACH child care, etc. This program might use the daycare as part of their training program.

Lastly, if students who (unwittingly) got pregnant HAD this recourse, we probably WOULD see more graduating students rather than young drop-outs.
**************************************************
08-24-03, 12:44 AM
honilov
Daycare would be nice, but it might be an added incentive for girls to get pregnant. Knowing that daycare will be provided could make them be a little more loose.
So far as drop-outs are concerned, there seem to be more boys dropping out than girls, so the daycare might not be an answer for less dropouts. It seems that the Grandparents are raising the babies anyway. I think it would be a nice thing to do though. Smile
**************************************************
08-24-03, 12:56 AM
samantha
I think this is an excellent idea myself. I also think it would encourage the kids to stay in school and they would not have to worry about baby sitters and things like this. Great idea! Smile
**************************************************
08-24-03, 01:24 AM
Wildflower63
Day care centers in high school? No way! It is an adult choice to become a parent. Either they can stay home and raise their chidren or find their own day care. I am strongly against this in our public schools. It makes teen parenting appear to be a norm and acceptable. The last thing I want my teen kids learning from the public schools. I would pull my kids out of a school that also ran a day care.
**************************************************
08-24-03, 01:40 AM
samantha
Well wild I think if the kids that have kids were to bring there children to school then that is encouraging them to continue on with there education. Maybe the other kids would learn that its not any fun raising kids and having to go to school and bring their children out in the weather and all. Then have to go home after wards instead of being able to go places with their friends.

I think its something the schools should do so the parent can continue on with their education. And whats a better education than learning to take care of children properly?
**************************************************
08-25-03, 11:34 AM
Elexina
I think that it is both a good and bad idea.
First of all, sometimes bad things happen to good people. I think that a girl should have every opportunity to obtain the most complete education possible, even if she also happens to be a mother herself. I think it is great that some schools provide this program to help young women finish school, when they might be unlikely to complete their education otherwise.

I think it could be a bad thing as well, because when discussing safe sex with young women, now a response could be, "it doesn't matter if I get pregnant because the school will take care of my kid."

Since I sometimes wonder why I, as a tax-payer, have to pay school tax when I have no children, I would also ask if (and why) I would be required to support such a program.
Not that I wouldn't, but I would be interested in how the finances are worked out. Maybe it could be run as a charity.
Just a thought.
**************************************************
10-20-06, 12:50 PM
DorianGreyed
Another old thread revisited.

I seriously doubt that there exists a girl of high school age who reasons, "I'd like to get pregnant and have a child right now, but then, I couldn't attend my classes and finish school." Schools are financed by the state in order to produce more productive citizens, from whom we all benefit. That being the case, a school should rise to meet a need of the students. At one time in our history, many rural high schools had a fall break for their students to help with the harvesting. The community had a need, the students had a need, and the school filled that need. Instead of students missing classes and falling behind, they were able to do what was required of them at home (on the farm), and go back to school, not missing a thing. Frankly, I think that the students benefited from that work experience.

High school day care is an excellent idea for many urban schools. The cost is no doubt less than the cost of paying for the results of another drop-out for the next 30 or so years.
**************************************************
10-23-06, 07:24 AM
Elexina

quote:
Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
I seriously doubt that there exists a girl of high school age who reasons, "I'd like to get pregnant and have a child right now, but then, I couldn't attend my classes and finish school."

Someone obviously has never watched "Sally Jessie Raphael." Big Grin
**************************************************
10-23-06, 12:43 PM
DorianGreyed
I am assuming that you mean those girls who want a child, thinking that someone else will pay for and raise the child. Those girls want a pet, not a child. But doesn't what they are saying and doing give evidence that they believe that having a child would not interfere with their lives? Surely it is obvious that such girls expect their mother or grandmother to play a large role in rearing their children.
--------
"It is an adult choice to become a parent."

No, it should be an adult choice. The ability to bear children comes long before adulthood, and every day, millions of teen-age girls make the decision to not become a parent.
--------
Those who are concerned with the cost to the taxpayer should welcome these daycare centers. By paying the cost of daycare for a couple of years for each child, the taxpayer reduces the chances of that child and that parent becoming a greater drain on society for a much longer period of time. That greater drain comes in many forms: food stamps, medical care, increased police costs, increased prison costs, damages to life and property, etc. The biggest drain, of course, is that paying a little now helps to reduce the chances of the child in daycare becoming a parent of another child in daycare 15 years later. Obviously, there is no upper limit to what not paying now could result in.

If it were possible to purchase a new car without any safety features, including mirrors, lights, turn signals, etc. and save a few thousand dollars, how many would opt for that car? How many would opt to save that few thousand dollars with the provision that any cost associated with the lack of such features is to be borne by the owner, that no insurance of any kind is allowed on such a car?

There used to be a commercial (I don't remember the product) that had a repairman saying, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later." Considering that the "later" payment is several times larger than the "now" payment, which makes more sense?

These daycare centers are the fiscally sound thing to do.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,