Are Early Childhood Educators "Shortchanged?" New Research Seems to Think So

The education of the younger generation is extremely important, seeing as how they are considered to be the future of our society. However, these days there is evidence showing that the quality of education for children is stagnated or is even on a decline, and some states in the United States are not putting enough money into funding early childhood education. Reports also show that there is a palpable discrepancy in the wages of preschool teachers in the United States.

"Rhode Island pays its preschool teachers a median wage of $15.82 an hour. Massachusetts pays a median wage of $15.18 while Connecticut pays $15.20," says an article from the Providence Journal. These do not seem like high enough wages at all for such a seemingly important profession. It appears as though all 50 states do not provide enough funding for this sector, and they have been "shortchanged" according to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, on the University of California - Berkeley campus.

It is important to put more money into these early education childhood programs, as studies show that children who attend high-quality early education are more successful in school. However, there seems to be a decreasing number of students taking up early childhood education in their college years due to low wages.

"Currently, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education occupies the dubious distinction of the college major with the lowest projected lifetime earnings," states the study from UC Berkeley. In fact, nearly half of all childcare workers need financial aid such as medical insurance (Medicaid) as well as food stamps.

"Without transforming policies that shape how we prepare, support and pay early educators, the 21st-century goal of quality early learning opportunities for all children will remain elusive," says Marcy Whitebook, one of the three authors of the study. "As a nation, we will continue to place unconscionable demands on the dedicated women, who, day and day out, do their best to support the learning and well-being of children, often against enormous odds," she adds.