Faith T. - Educator

I’ve worked with children for 3 years in the GNBVT classroom, but I’ve also babysat children for 3 years prior. I chose childcare because I love children and I enjoy teaching them new methods and helping them learn about their letters and numbers. I also enjoy helping with children with behavioral situations. I feel like I’m able to connect with most children and can handle the situations using and learning new methods. Biggest obstacles are children having a disconnect from the program. We deal with children from different situations at home which may allow children to respond differently to Massachusetts guidelines that we're supposed to teach. We deal with children who can make you go home and feel like you could sleep for years, and getting paid minimum wage is way below working at any fast food restaurant. We take care of children and help them learn things they can’t just receive at home. We deserve to be paid way more hourly.

What would the existence of an affordable, high-quality early education and child care program mean for you as an educator? What would be different if such a program existed?

This would grab more people towards the childcare field. People feel they must go more towards the health field to get a reasonable check, although teachers are worked just as hard as nurses or other medical professionals. Teachers keep the children alive and educated every day for 180 days a year, not including the planning that goes behind the lessons that are taught to the children. A lot of work is put together to keep a classroom running and a lot of money for supplies. Teachers should be paid way more than minimum.