Is the media critically thinking through what the government feeds them for a story? What is the media's responsibility to carefully review information before going with the story?
King 5 reported this week that parents are now better informed that transparency has been improved as the child care licensing agency DEL (The Department of Early Learning) now scans in the "Facility Licensing Compliance Agreements" into their website.
The most vital information the Governor's office (its Christine Gregoire's agency now) does not give are the child protective services (CPS) investigations.
Most important for parents to know is that the department has allowed providers and facilities with "founded" CPS charges to keep their licenses.
The parent will not find "CPS" information on the Governor's child care licensing website.
The website even tells you that.
Additionally, in direct violation of law (RCW) the parent is not notified of the licensed child care providers and facilities that are currently in denial, suspension or revocation action.
Parents will not find the names child care providers or facilities who had their licenses denied, revoked or suspended.
Both of those are required by law.
Some parents could be using these providers (who sometimes continue to then provide unlicensed care).
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
How Children Learn to Read, a Lesson from the 17th Century
Thomas Tryon advises how to teach children to read and write in England in the late 17th Century:
"At a year and a half, or two years old show them their letters, not troubling them in the vulgar way, with asking them what is this letter, or that word, but instead thereof, make frequent repetitions in their hearing, putting the letters in their sight. And thus in a little time, they will easily and familiarly learn to distinguish the twenty-four letters, all as they learn the utensils, goods, and furniture of the house, by hearing the family name them. At the same time, teach your children to hold the pen, and guide theirs hand; and by this method, your children, unaccountably to themselves, will attain to read and write at three, four and five years old....."
In America
1790 literacy rate was 90% (women's was 45%)
1840 rate - between 93 -100%
1940 rate - 96% for Whites - 80% for Blacks
1951 rate - 81%
1973 rate - 73%
I am having trouble finding the most recent literacy rates. I'll post when I find.
"At a year and a half, or two years old show them their letters, not troubling them in the vulgar way, with asking them what is this letter, or that word, but instead thereof, make frequent repetitions in their hearing, putting the letters in their sight. And thus in a little time, they will easily and familiarly learn to distinguish the twenty-four letters, all as they learn the utensils, goods, and furniture of the house, by hearing the family name them. At the same time, teach your children to hold the pen, and guide theirs hand; and by this method, your children, unaccountably to themselves, will attain to read and write at three, four and five years old....."
In America
1790 literacy rate was 90% (women's was 45%)
1840 rate - between 93 -100%
1940 rate - 96% for Whites - 80% for Blacks
1951 rate - 81%
1973 rate - 73%
I am having trouble finding the most recent literacy rates. I'll post when I find.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
State Senator Val Stevens rebukes DSHS for Not protecting Children
I just sent this letter off to the Colmunbian Newspaper in Vancouver. See a link to the full article below
Dear Editor,
The state's spokesman said:
"Agency spokeswoman Lee said the state disagrees with the accrediting body that all supervisors must have master’s degrees in social work..."
Before 1989 all supervisors (Social Worker 4's) and social worker 3's were required to have their masters in social work.
AFSCME and DSHS administrators decertified that position themselves a long long time ago in 1989. We got a big raise and the requirements for social worker 4 (supervisors) and social worker 3 (social workers or caseworkers) positions were weakened.
The next big investigation that a newspaper or television media should do is on what is going on in the Attorney General's Office. More of the story will come into view. Perhaps a federal Inspector General must be called. They recently did a good investigation on the Justice Department.
In 1911 the father of scientific management Frederick Winslow Taylor wrote: "In the past man has been first. In the future the system must be first."
It's been almost 100 years. These systems are crumbling. Reforms aren't working. The state has few leaders who will manage and monitor the system to success. Christine Gregoire in my opinion has failed in her responsibility to protect children when she was the attorney general and as governor.
Margo Logan
Here's the link:
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06242008_Legislator-rebukes-childrens-agency.cfm?newsletter=1
Dear Editor,
The state's spokesman said:
"Agency spokeswoman Lee said the state disagrees with the accrediting body that all supervisors must have master’s degrees in social work..."
Before 1989 all supervisors (Social Worker 4's) and social worker 3's were required to have their masters in social work.
AFSCME and DSHS administrators decertified that position themselves a long long time ago in 1989. We got a big raise and the requirements for social worker 4 (supervisors) and social worker 3 (social workers or caseworkers) positions were weakened.
The next big investigation that a newspaper or television media should do is on what is going on in the Attorney General's Office. More of the story will come into view. Perhaps a federal Inspector General must be called. They recently did a good investigation on the Justice Department.
In 1911 the father of scientific management Frederick Winslow Taylor wrote: "In the past man has been first. In the future the system must be first."
It's been almost 100 years. These systems are crumbling. Reforms aren't working. The state has few leaders who will manage and monitor the system to success. Christine Gregoire in my opinion has failed in her responsibility to protect children when she was the attorney general and as governor.
Margo Logan
Here's the link:
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06242008_Legislator-rebukes-childrens-agency.cfm?newsletter=1
Monday, June 23, 2008
Remembering How You Learned to Read
Folks in my classes continue to report not remembering how they learned to read. A couple here and there do, but most do not.
One woman who learned to read before she went to school, again, like Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird" got in trouble when she read along with the teacher.
I haven't spent a lot of time this spring reading with the seven year old in my life. I got an adult book out of the library on pirates. The pleasure and pride came to his face when he once again could tackle an adult book. I helped him when he stumbled with the decoding.
He stopped at one point and said, "My teacher says that if I come across five words that are hard to pronounce it means the book is too hard for me." "No way", I shouted gleefully! His look of relief warmed my heart.
He read the first page of the introduction. Took him 23 minutes of concentration and effort. I gave definition to the words he didn't know.
Kids want to be in the real world with adults. They really like to hang out with adults who treat them with respect who have an interest in the world.
One woman who learned to read before she went to school, again, like Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird" got in trouble when she read along with the teacher.
I haven't spent a lot of time this spring reading with the seven year old in my life. I got an adult book out of the library on pirates. The pleasure and pride came to his face when he once again could tackle an adult book. I helped him when he stumbled with the decoding.
He stopped at one point and said, "My teacher says that if I come across five words that are hard to pronounce it means the book is too hard for me." "No way", I shouted gleefully! His look of relief warmed my heart.
He read the first page of the introduction. Took him 23 minutes of concentration and effort. I gave definition to the words he didn't know.
Kids want to be in the real world with adults. They really like to hang out with adults who treat them with respect who have an interest in the world.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Child Care Licensing Website and the Ides of March
As a former child care licensor looking at the most newly created Department of Early Learning (DEL) website "Beware the Ides of March" phrase pops into my head.
Why?
Caesar's wife had a dream about treachery and betrayal that would happen mid-March. I don't have the exact date but the "NEW" child care licensing website got launched about mid-March.
As a parent looking up a child care provider on this website you will not be given the information whether or not the provider or facility has a "founded" child protective services (CPS) claim against it.
Parents now have access to all the regulations (called WACs) on the website but the bureaucracy fails to tell you that a WAC can be waived at the whim of a supervisor and manager.
Thus when a parent views a particular provider and the history looks clean, we don't know if they were found to have abused, neglected a child or a child was sexually abused on their property.
The CPS statute is being used to keep secrets. Investigations of child abuse in a licensed facility do not fall under the CPS law (RCW 26.44). That law was written to do with the "private" family not a "licensed" facility.
Perhaps some of our Senators and Representatives will help this next legislative session to clear up this problem for parents who must use licensed child care in order to go to work for the benefit of the state, the economy and stakeholders.
Why?
Caesar's wife had a dream about treachery and betrayal that would happen mid-March. I don't have the exact date but the "NEW" child care licensing website got launched about mid-March.
As a parent looking up a child care provider on this website you will not be given the information whether or not the provider or facility has a "founded" child protective services (CPS) claim against it.
Parents now have access to all the regulations (called WACs) on the website but the bureaucracy fails to tell you that a WAC can be waived at the whim of a supervisor and manager.
Thus when a parent views a particular provider and the history looks clean, we don't know if they were found to have abused, neglected a child or a child was sexually abused on their property.
The CPS statute is being used to keep secrets. Investigations of child abuse in a licensed facility do not fall under the CPS law (RCW 26.44). That law was written to do with the "private" family not a "licensed" facility.
Perhaps some of our Senators and Representatives will help this next legislative session to clear up this problem for parents who must use licensed child care in order to go to work for the benefit of the state, the economy and stakeholders.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Words out of the Mouth of DSHS
DSHS in 2002 in the courts stated in regards to the issues of health, safety and well-being of children in care and which the Washington Supreme Court rejected:
"the State’s arguments....children in foster care have no constitutionally protected rights or that the rights they do possess are no greater than convicted criminals in prison."
and:
"The Court also rejected the State’s defense that budgetary constraints allow it to violate the rights of children for whom it is caring...."
This is chilling. Who are the people running or connected to DSHS that have this mindset?
From: Braam v. State of Washington
"the State’s arguments....children in foster care have no constitutionally protected rights or that the rights they do possess are no greater than convicted criminals in prison."
and:
"The Court also rejected the State’s defense that budgetary constraints allow it to violate the rights of children for whom it is caring...."
This is chilling. Who are the people running or connected to DSHS that have this mindset?
From: Braam v. State of Washington
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Eco-healthy family home child care
209 family home child day care providers in Oregon are certified "eco-healthy" by the Oregon Environmental council.
Check out the the link below for some inspiring stories and ideas about the nature connection that is so important to children.
One of these providers was in my class today. After visiting her and others' eco-healthy day care homes I'll post my observations.
Good stuff.
http://www.oeconline.org/kidshealth/ehcc/ecoqualified
Check out the the link below for some inspiring stories and ideas about the nature connection that is so important to children.
One of these providers was in my class today. After visiting her and others' eco-healthy day care homes I'll post my observations.
Good stuff.
http://www.oeconline.org/kidshealth/ehcc/ecoqualified
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