From TODAY, Voices
Friday August 29, 2008
Letter from Suzana Binte Mohamad Ali
I REFER to “The ideal teacher” (Aug 27).
A childcare teacher’s role is not as simple as it seems, and not all stay-at-home mothers (SAHMs) are suited to be one.
Taking care of your own children differs a lot from taking care of other people’s children. Other parents may have even higher expectations than you do.
In childcare centres, teachers have to look after more children than what a SAHM has to at home.
Most childcare teachers are married with children, and even if they are not, they are well trained in early childhood education.
The childcare industry is a feminine field. We are women and we do have the same soft spot in us. We learn from each other all the time.
My fellow teachers and I have come across highly-educated women who leave their kids to childcare teachers early in the morning and only fetch them home late in the evening even though they are SAHMs.
The teachers are the ones who change diapers, make milk, feed breakfast, and comb the children’s hair.
Some parents need to be reminded when to replace toothbrushes or bring a change of towels.
Sometimes, childcare teachers are treated more like maids.
Most times, parents only see the surface job duties that we teachers do, and not the preparations and processes necessary for daily operations.
It does not take only a SAHM to be able to understand a child’s needs or a parent’s concern, and thus be an ideal candidate as a childcare teacher.
Long hours, low pay and tons of work means it is a job that calls for passion.
Any woman who has this passion in her would be an ideal person for such a job.
Friday August 29, 2008
Letter from Suzana Binte Mohamad Ali
I REFER to “The ideal teacher” (Aug 27).
A childcare teacher’s role is not as simple as it seems, and not all stay-at-home mothers (SAHMs) are suited to be one.
Taking care of your own children differs a lot from taking care of other people’s children. Other parents may have even higher expectations than you do.
In childcare centres, teachers have to look after more children than what a SAHM has to at home.
Most childcare teachers are married with children, and even if they are not, they are well trained in early childhood education.
The childcare industry is a feminine field. We are women and we do have the same soft spot in us. We learn from each other all the time.
My fellow teachers and I have come across highly-educated women who leave their kids to childcare teachers early in the morning and only fetch them home late in the evening even though they are SAHMs.
The teachers are the ones who change diapers, make milk, feed breakfast, and comb the children’s hair.
Some parents need to be reminded when to replace toothbrushes or bring a change of towels.
Sometimes, childcare teachers are treated more like maids.
Most times, parents only see the surface job duties that we teachers do, and not the preparations and processes necessary for daily operations.
It does not take only a SAHM to be able to understand a child’s needs or a parent’s concern, and thus be an ideal candidate as a childcare teacher.
Long hours, low pay and tons of work means it is a job that calls for passion.
Any woman who has this passion in her would be an ideal person for such a job.
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