This report "Leaving Children to Chance" by the National Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) left their methodology to chance. All this report highlights to begin with is just what is written down on a piece of paper (otherwise known as standards) and then the individual states saying to the NACCRA, "yes, what I am reporting is true."
Therefore, this is not an actual look to see if states enforce day care standards, it is only, did the states write down a standard (or requirement) on a piece of paper?
What NACCRA wrote about their methodology:
"In November 2011, NACCRRA sent a request to child care licensing directors in all 51 states (including the District of Columbia) and a representative from the Office of Family Policy/Office of Children and Youth in the Department of Defense (DoD). We asked them to verify the accuracy of information we had gathered about specific licensing regulations in their state related to small family child care homes."
Well, just looking at the states ranked in the top two, Oklahoma and Washington State the information is not accurate.
One NACCRRA category is: "Online inspection and complaint reports are available to parents on the Internet."
For Washington State inspection reports are not available to parents on-line as reported in "Leaving Children to Chance".
For Oklahoma complaint inspections are not available to parents on-line as reported in "Leaving Children to Chance."
That immediately reduces the scores for those top two states. This report lacks validity and reliability in the outcomes of NACCRA's research and analysis. They could have at least gone to the websites of Washington State and Oklahoma to do some independent verification, but they didn't.
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are funded by the feds and the states. They don't have access to the information the state licensing agencies have nor do they provide accurate information to parents. Most of these agencies are subordinate to the federal and state governments to keep their money, keep the funding going on the taxpayers dollar.
The most accurate part of NACCRA's report is, indeed, parents are "Leaving Children to Chance" when they look for day care.
http://www.naccrra.org/about-child-care/state-child-care-licensing/2012-leaving-children-to-chance
Smoke and mirrors; and a waste of the taxpayers' money.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Washington State - Everett Child Daycare license suspended over violence, neglect
To the parents in Washington State the latest revision of the child day care regulations go into effect on March 31, 2012. Kudos to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) for taking action sooner rather than later; and before a child got maimed or killed.
I gave DEL kudos for writing researched based, evidence based regulations. The next step in my experience as a former child day care licensor was for managers to fairly enforce the regulations to keep children safe, healthy and happy.
I don't have copies of the records as yet and it appears the agency is moving forward with obeying the laws our citizen legislature passed.
Then the agency upping the front end, at this time, will go a long ways to producing a higher quality licensing process when folks apply to get a license; and a high quality outcome with untraumatized children and children who are still whole and alive.
For child day care providers I recommend upping your own quality by accessing a mentor and classes through SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives); and that organization will assist you in your small business characteristics that will lead to high quality and success.
Daycare facility has license suspended over violence, neglect
I gave DEL kudos for writing researched based, evidence based regulations. The next step in my experience as a former child day care licensor was for managers to fairly enforce the regulations to keep children safe, healthy and happy.
I don't have copies of the records as yet and it appears the agency is moving forward with obeying the laws our citizen legislature passed.
Then the agency upping the front end, at this time, will go a long ways to producing a higher quality licensing process when folks apply to get a license; and a high quality outcome with untraumatized children and children who are still whole and alive.
For child day care providers I recommend upping your own quality by accessing a mentor and classes through SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives); and that organization will assist you in your small business characteristics that will lead to high quality and success.
Daycare facility has license suspended over violence, neglect
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
DSHS & State of Georgia paid day cares that failed to meet standards | ajc.com
Like in Washington State with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Georgia has also paid out millions to child day care providers, providers who were out of compliance as well as where children were badly treated.
State paid day cares that failed to meet standards | ajc.com
From the Atlanta article:
"In all, at least 17 percent of the $2 billion handed out by the state — nearly one out of every five dollars — went to day cares that the state determined fell short on health and safety. Of that money, at least $230 million went to day care programs that had been deemed non-compliant multiple times, the investigation shows."
And like in Washington State the child care licensing arm of the government had no communication with the giving out money through the subsidy portion of the government.
The newspaper did an in depth investigation through getting state records and found:
"Combined data:
"559: Non-compliant day cares that received both subsidies
33: Non-compliant day cares that received more than $1 million from one or both subsidy programs"
Why does the media have to do these investigations? In the State of Washington, the State Auditor should have been doing this; did not and has not.
Thanks to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for doing this investigation. From my experience these problems exist across the nation.
State paid day cares that failed to meet standards | ajc.com
From the Atlanta article:
"In all, at least 17 percent of the $2 billion handed out by the state — nearly one out of every five dollars — went to day cares that the state determined fell short on health and safety. Of that money, at least $230 million went to day care programs that had been deemed non-compliant multiple times, the investigation shows."
And like in Washington State the child care licensing arm of the government had no communication with the giving out money through the subsidy portion of the government.
The newspaper did an in depth investigation through getting state records and found:
"Combined data:
"559: Non-compliant day cares that received both subsidies
33: Non-compliant day cares that received more than $1 million from one or both subsidy programs"
Why does the media have to do these investigations? In the State of Washington, the State Auditor should have been doing this; did not and has not.
Thanks to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for doing this investigation. From my experience these problems exist across the nation.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
DSHS - Washington Child Day Care Providers Who Seemingly Believe Parents Don't Read
A legislative work committee was quickly called to session when a minority of child day care providers in the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) marshaled once again to delay implementation of child day care rules. For four and a half years some thirty of these providers and one lone parent met with the state to create rules using evidence based research. As you will read from my testimony below this group spent time and effort in their attempt to take away the first amendment rights of the lone parent on rule making work group.
Parents were left out of the process and have historically been largely ignored by DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) and now DEL (Department of Early Learning). I signed up a couple of years ago on Google Alerts for news stories on "child deaths in day care". They come in DAILY.
I give credit and kudos to DEL in this outcome of the writing the latest rules to be implemented March 31, 2012. I take this minority group of SEIU child day care providers to task for their disregard of the peace of mind of parents who must work and who must put their child in day care.
My testimony is copied here:
March 12, 2012
Dear Spokane City Council, Rep. Walsh, Rep. Overstreet, Dr. Hyde, Mr. McLellan and Stu Jacobson,
As a former licensor (for 13 years) turned whistle blower turned analyst/expert witness consultant I thank Stu Jacobson, Washington Parents for Safe Child Care for sharing the links below. I reviewed them all.
I admire the Spokane community's work on a community rights bill in the works for the last few years. Certainly, the question of local governance is unfolding and unrolling across our great nation in this time of monumental change with the wars draining the money out of the treasury (and taxpayers' pockets).
If the citizens (all the citizens) of Spokane want local governance to do oversight on child safety, kindness and learning in day care I suggest start forming those work groups now and sally forth with that plan to create a "crisis of jurisdiction" for the state to then grapple with. Included in that plan must be any of the federal issues that might come up (like funding issues, food programs and child care subsidies, etc). If citizen's taxes can go to a local plan rather than to the federal and state government a viable opportunity may be at hand (after much dedicated work).
In the 1 hour and 22 minute legislative committee work session I don't believe I heard the word "parent" once or any mention of what "parents" wanted in the revised WACs.
My subject line says "Back to the Future" because most of what is being reported by the media (not just in Spokane) is that these are "new" regulations. No they aren't. The document is longer because now some areas are explained much better and in more detail.
The 2004 revision of the family home child care licensing WACs was poorly written so poorly written to be direct it was "crap".
The safety regulations have always been there. The playground equipment ground cover has always been an issue. The 18 inch deck issues has always been an issue. The platform issue is a fire code issue not one made up by the day care licensing agency. When it's a conundrum, be professional and request a consult with your local fire department. There was a yearly educational requirement started in 1999. DSHS DCCEL took it out in October 2004.
In terms of the child care regulations as one husband testified, parents wouldn't be allowed to keep their own children. Parental rights do trump a child care business provider's contractual privileges in being granted a license and the ability to keep the license.. A day care license is not a constitutional right (see Hardee v DSHS 2011, Washington State Supreme Court decision).
Mention was made of how SEIU's collective bargaining required the state to bargain with them (a small minority) regarding regulations. The negotiated rule making law is not about unions. Under the law it was a public review and process. Again if you review the one hour and 22 minute TVW video parents are almost virtually ignored.
There was one parent on the Negotiated Rule Making Team, Stu Jacobson, and the SEIU spent taxpayer money and time at the meetings in an attempt to take away Mr. Jacobson first amendment right of free speech under the United States Constitution because he spoke to the press. I was a witness at that meeting. They stopped the business of reviewing the WACs to figure out how they could punish him for giving an opinion to the press.
I heard on this TVW tape from a few who support a certain segment of providers, emotional language that 100s will quit on March 31, 2012. I want specific data. None was given.
I have been a big critic of DEL and I give credit when it is due. Bob McLellan in his testimony cited data and statistics. He cited the director agreeing with 90% of the work product of the Negotiated Rule Making Team's at the culmination of their 4 years of work. 5% Dr. Hyde had fundamental issues with were related to safety for children and development.
I was sorry to hear DEL didn't stick with no smoking. Smoking gets into fabric, furniture, carpeting, sofa cushions and the chemical can be smelled, if it can be smell it does damage to lungs and other tissue in the body. Little ones lung tissue is the most vulnerable.
Someone threw out the number that 900 day cares closed last year with a source not being cited. Bob reported looking at the statistics. Numbers maintained from 2008 to 2010 then a decline noted. The economy has been bad, really bad.
I'm glad to hear about the "tablet" and immediate recording of data into a computer data base. I went through by hand one year to see which WACs were most violated on my caseload.
Bob is also correct in saying the majority of family home child care providers will have no problem with this current revision. I had one provider on my caseload (when my caseload was 260) who asked me each time, "Why do you let them have a license? The regulations aren't hard to follow. Why do they get to keep their licenses?" Why? It was because of the managers. That's where the inconsistency comes in.
The legislative comment about "extreme differences between regions" is entirely accurate.
Having 100-120 on one's caseload would be heaven in my experience and estimation. With non-expiring licenses monitoring can go way up now.
In my opinion as I believe Bob captured it, but I believe he was referring to it coming from Mary Kay Quinlan's perspective; it is not about a dialogue between provider and licensor. It is about how managers will operate and oversee the agency. Ms Quinlan in my expert opinion and in documents I've reviewed had (has?) a history of being inconsistent.
In my experience, witnessing and opinion the legislature needs to undo the so-called collective bargaining bills. The SEIU is not a friend to parents or children. Their friendship with only a minority of providers does not represent all providers and certainly represents no parents. SEIU and other so-called collective bargaining unions are getting free money from the taxpayer. With that money if legislators don't do their will, legislators have been threatened with losing their elections. It needs to not only happen with SEIU, but with AFSCME also.
This is the best management presentation (Bob's) that I have seen from DEL. I know it couldn't have happened without Betty Hyde. She must do that now with all of the management team. That will be the pivotal moment March 31, 2012 when the family home child day care WACs go into effect.
The plan for implementation cannot be "a dialogue between licensors and providers".
I've been writing for some time for applicants and providers to get a mentor from SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives). They help small business folks, entrepreneurs. State employees have not experience with being business people and few providers also don't have that experience.
What we see play out many times is a manifestation of bickering like that between a child and a parent, between people who believe they are powerless and the ones that seemingly have the power. The real power lies with the managers, that's what must be studied and reported on in this process.
So I have kudos for DEL and a criticism. And taxpayer money going directly to SEIU must STOP. If individual providers want to cut them a check every month then fine, let SEIU do their work, earn their money and get paid by the providers who want to be in SEIU.
Same with AFSCME.
Thank you for your consideration regarding my testimony, of my experience, expertise in child care licensing and being the insider for 13 years,
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
In follow up testimony I sent to the Early Learning legislative work committee:
Dear All,
To bring the parent perspective into the fold of the Early Learning legislative work group, I'd like to add that I have been getting Google Alerts on "child deaths in day care" for a few years now. Those alerts come up daily in my inbox. Daily.
There is a plethora of tragic stories in the news about day care and that's just in terms of deaths and maiming of children. Parents see and read those stories.
As a day care licensing insider I can testify to how parents calling in with concerns were discounted by the agency. I can testify (and have a document) that as licensors we were not to "tell" parents about violations we'd seen.
One time I told a parent calling about the day care where her son got badly bitten by the provider's child (my supervisor would not go out and do the investigation on the complaint) to take the provider to small claims court. She did and got some measure of justice (including getting the medical bills paid). The provider later complained about me doing that.
If attendance in day care is going down how parents feel must be figured into the equation. When a provider goes on television and scoffs at having a 3 day supply of food encase of an emergency, I'm thinking I'm not taking my kids there. I had too many providers on my caseload who complained about not only doing a monthly fire drill but doing any fire drills at all. They flagrantly as well used the upstairs that had no fire escape exit. And no my managers wouldn't take enforcement action.
There are more examples in my book DSHS SECRETS. It's on Amazon.com
On the Negotiated Rule Making Team (off the top of my head) there were about 30 providers represented. And one parent, Stu Jacobson, of Washington Parents for Safe Child Care. I all ready testified to that group's attempt to take away his 1st Amendments rights.
These complainer providers are a minority. Which brings up the question of whistle blowers. If the industry doesn't police itself then what are you left with? You're left with the citizen legislature who hears from parents, child advocates and sees the research, sees the data.
DEL to their credit in this go around sought and produced evidenced based research and data to uphold the regulations that were written. Kudos to them.
It's now at the juncture, in my opinion, on how the DEL managers will manage the agency, implement and/or enforce the WACs as well as creating some mechanisms to ensure parents are respected, heard and given transparent information about day care licensing that will be under the microscope. It will be under my microscope as my hypothesis has been for years that "failed" managers have not only stayed on, but were promoted to higher positions. Typically when "new" directors came on board they didn't know licensing, the "failed" managers would then tell the "new" director how it goes.
Dr. Hyde has produced a good work product here; and her top managers followed her leadership. Now the big test will be how her managers implement the good work product.
If Spokane wants to test a pilot program of local licensing, oversight, training and enforcement perhaps the legislature can get something passed to approve that as a test run of local community control and oversight.
Thank you
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
Parents were left out of the process and have historically been largely ignored by DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) and now DEL (Department of Early Learning). I signed up a couple of years ago on Google Alerts for news stories on "child deaths in day care". They come in DAILY.
I give credit and kudos to DEL in this outcome of the writing the latest rules to be implemented March 31, 2012. I take this minority group of SEIU child day care providers to task for their disregard of the peace of mind of parents who must work and who must put their child in day care.
My testimony is copied here:
March 12, 2012
Dear Spokane City Council, Rep. Walsh, Rep. Overstreet, Dr. Hyde, Mr. McLellan and Stu Jacobson,
As a former licensor (for 13 years) turned whistle blower turned analyst/expert witness consultant I thank Stu Jacobson, Washington Parents for Safe Child Care for sharing the links below. I reviewed them all.
I admire the Spokane community's work on a community rights bill in the works for the last few years. Certainly, the question of local governance is unfolding and unrolling across our great nation in this time of monumental change with the wars draining the money out of the treasury (and taxpayers' pockets).
If the citizens (all the citizens) of Spokane want local governance to do oversight on child safety, kindness and learning in day care I suggest start forming those work groups now and sally forth with that plan to create a "crisis of jurisdiction" for the state to then grapple with. Included in that plan must be any of the federal issues that might come up (like funding issues, food programs and child care subsidies, etc). If citizen's taxes can go to a local plan rather than to the federal and state government a viable opportunity may be at hand (after much dedicated work).
In the 1 hour and 22 minute legislative committee work session I don't believe I heard the word "parent" once or any mention of what "parents" wanted in the revised WACs.
My subject line says "Back to the Future" because most of what is being reported by the media (not just in Spokane) is that these are "new" regulations. No they aren't. The document is longer because now some areas are explained much better and in more detail.
The 2004 revision of the family home child care licensing WACs was poorly written so poorly written to be direct it was "crap".
The safety regulations have always been there. The playground equipment ground cover has always been an issue. The 18 inch deck issues has always been an issue. The platform issue is a fire code issue not one made up by the day care licensing agency. When it's a conundrum, be professional and request a consult with your local fire department. There was a yearly educational requirement started in 1999. DSHS DCCEL took it out in October 2004.
In terms of the child care regulations as one husband testified, parents wouldn't be allowed to keep their own children. Parental rights do trump a child care business provider's contractual privileges in being granted a license and the ability to keep the license.. A day care license is not a constitutional right (see Hardee v DSHS 2011, Washington State Supreme Court decision).
Mention was made of how SEIU's collective bargaining required the state to bargain with them (a small minority) regarding regulations. The negotiated rule making law is not about unions. Under the law it was a public review and process. Again if you review the one hour and 22 minute TVW video parents are almost virtually ignored.
There was one parent on the Negotiated Rule Making Team, Stu Jacobson, and the SEIU spent taxpayer money and time at the meetings in an attempt to take away Mr. Jacobson first amendment right of free speech under the United States Constitution because he spoke to the press. I was a witness at that meeting. They stopped the business of reviewing the WACs to figure out how they could punish him for giving an opinion to the press.
I heard on this TVW tape from a few who support a certain segment of providers, emotional language that 100s will quit on March 31, 2012. I want specific data. None was given.
I have been a big critic of DEL and I give credit when it is due. Bob McLellan in his testimony cited data and statistics. He cited the director agreeing with 90% of the work product of the Negotiated Rule Making Team's at the culmination of their 4 years of work. 5% Dr. Hyde had fundamental issues with were related to safety for children and development.
I was sorry to hear DEL didn't stick with no smoking. Smoking gets into fabric, furniture, carpeting, sofa cushions and the chemical can be smelled, if it can be smell it does damage to lungs and other tissue in the body. Little ones lung tissue is the most vulnerable.
Someone threw out the number that 900 day cares closed last year with a source not being cited. Bob reported looking at the statistics. Numbers maintained from 2008 to 2010 then a decline noted. The economy has been bad, really bad.
I'm glad to hear about the "tablet" and immediate recording of data into a computer data base. I went through by hand one year to see which WACs were most violated on my caseload.
Bob is also correct in saying the majority of family home child care providers will have no problem with this current revision. I had one provider on my caseload (when my caseload was 260) who asked me each time, "Why do you let them have a license? The regulations aren't hard to follow. Why do they get to keep their licenses?" Why? It was because of the managers. That's where the inconsistency comes in.
The legislative comment about "extreme differences between regions" is entirely accurate.
Having 100-120 on one's caseload would be heaven in my experience and estimation. With non-expiring licenses monitoring can go way up now.
In my opinion as I believe Bob captured it, but I believe he was referring to it coming from Mary Kay Quinlan's perspective; it is not about a dialogue between provider and licensor. It is about how managers will operate and oversee the agency. Ms Quinlan in my expert opinion and in documents I've reviewed had (has?) a history of being inconsistent.
In my experience, witnessing and opinion the legislature needs to undo the so-called collective bargaining bills. The SEIU is not a friend to parents or children. Their friendship with only a minority of providers does not represent all providers and certainly represents no parents. SEIU and other so-called collective bargaining unions are getting free money from the taxpayer. With that money if legislators don't do their will, legislators have been threatened with losing their elections. It needs to not only happen with SEIU, but with AFSCME also.
This is the best management presentation (Bob's) that I have seen from DEL. I know it couldn't have happened without Betty Hyde. She must do that now with all of the management team. That will be the pivotal moment March 31, 2012 when the family home child day care WACs go into effect.
The plan for implementation cannot be "a dialogue between licensors and providers".
I've been writing for some time for applicants and providers to get a mentor from SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives). They help small business folks, entrepreneurs. State employees have not experience with being business people and few providers also don't have that experience.
What we see play out many times is a manifestation of bickering like that between a child and a parent, between people who believe they are powerless and the ones that seemingly have the power. The real power lies with the managers, that's what must be studied and reported on in this process.
So I have kudos for DEL and a criticism. And taxpayer money going directly to SEIU must STOP. If individual providers want to cut them a check every month then fine, let SEIU do their work, earn their money and get paid by the providers who want to be in SEIU.
Same with AFSCME.
Thank you for your consideration regarding my testimony, of my experience, expertise in child care licensing and being the insider for 13 years,
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
In follow up testimony I sent to the Early Learning legislative work committee:
Dear All,
To bring the parent perspective into the fold of the Early Learning legislative work group, I'd like to add that I have been getting Google Alerts on "child deaths in day care" for a few years now. Those alerts come up daily in my inbox. Daily.
There is a plethora of tragic stories in the news about day care and that's just in terms of deaths and maiming of children. Parents see and read those stories.
As a day care licensing insider I can testify to how parents calling in with concerns were discounted by the agency. I can testify (and have a document) that as licensors we were not to "tell" parents about violations we'd seen.
One time I told a parent calling about the day care where her son got badly bitten by the provider's child (my supervisor would not go out and do the investigation on the complaint) to take the provider to small claims court. She did and got some measure of justice (including getting the medical bills paid). The provider later complained about me doing that.
If attendance in day care is going down how parents feel must be figured into the equation. When a provider goes on television and scoffs at having a 3 day supply of food encase of an emergency, I'm thinking I'm not taking my kids there. I had too many providers on my caseload who complained about not only doing a monthly fire drill but doing any fire drills at all. They flagrantly as well used the upstairs that had no fire escape exit. And no my managers wouldn't take enforcement action.
There are more examples in my book DSHS SECRETS. It's on Amazon.com
On the Negotiated Rule Making Team (off the top of my head) there were about 30 providers represented. And one parent, Stu Jacobson, of Washington Parents for Safe Child Care. I all ready testified to that group's attempt to take away his 1st Amendments rights.
These complainer providers are a minority. Which brings up the question of whistle blowers. If the industry doesn't police itself then what are you left with? You're left with the citizen legislature who hears from parents, child advocates and sees the research, sees the data.
DEL to their credit in this go around sought and produced evidenced based research and data to uphold the regulations that were written. Kudos to them.
It's now at the juncture, in my opinion, on how the DEL managers will manage the agency, implement and/or enforce the WACs as well as creating some mechanisms to ensure parents are respected, heard and given transparent information about day care licensing that will be under the microscope. It will be under my microscope as my hypothesis has been for years that "failed" managers have not only stayed on, but were promoted to higher positions. Typically when "new" directors came on board they didn't know licensing, the "failed" managers would then tell the "new" director how it goes.
Dr. Hyde has produced a good work product here; and her top managers followed her leadership. Now the big test will be how her managers implement the good work product.
If Spokane wants to test a pilot program of local licensing, oversight, training and enforcement perhaps the legislature can get something passed to approve that as a test run of local community control and oversight.
Thank you
Margo Logan
Child Care Consulting
Monday, February 13, 2012
Memo to DSHS, DEL and Unions: We, the People are not Dumb
DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services), DEL (Department of Early Learning) and a myriad of unions including SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees) which was my union when I was inside DSHS said you were dumb. My managers told me you were dumb. Managers said folks coming to the day care licensing orientation classes were dumb. Parents, we were told were dumb. Managers in day care licensing said we were not to give parents information (I have the email).
Teaching a community class for the last five years, guess what DSHS, DEL and Teacher Unions, we, the people, citizens and parents are not dumb. Memo to DSHS, DEL and the unions, quit blaming parents and quit telling government workers that the citizens of Washington State of dumb.
I found and find folks are hungry and thirsty for truth telling. I found folks were readers, intuitive and critical thinkers. I found adult learners like kid learners don't want to be bored.
John Taylor Gatto, a New York Teacher of the Year and now author of such books as Weapons of Mass Instruction calculated only 100 hours are needed to teach someone to read. When my grandson was in agony trying to read the public school education way, luckily, I was reading Gatto's book on The Underground History of American Education.
Learning to read had been so easy for me I had forgotten the mechanics of how I learned to read. When I read Gatto's book, I went "Ah, ha!" and thus in no time my oldest grandson learned not only to read, but loved to read. He surged ahead so quickly one week on a Monday he quickly and happily did the whole week's worth of homework. Guess what? Like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, he got in trouble for "going ahead." He was so confused, here he had done a great thing and got in trouble for it.
I sub in a school district as a classroom assistant and I find kids are often times bored, so bored, they sometimes act out. Many of the classroom assistants are bored.
Most of us don't know where we got this "public education" system that is mind numbing to so many kids. "All in all, we're just another brick in the wall." (Pink Floyd) Like the shenanigans that brought in SEIU, the template for that started over 150 years ago when the National Education Association (NEA) was brought in...through an Act in Congress, a federal law.
Who were the "teachers" at that time who wanted this "association"? Teachers who had failed as entrepreneurs in putting together their own schools.
One of my father's refrains growing up was "you're a Democrat, you're union and you vote." OK, dad. So union supporter was I. So much so I organized a union in an area that had never been unionized before. As the years went on I became a DSHS social worker and union member I witnessed the decline of what it meant to be "union".
In 1988 a social worker III had to have masters degree. In 1989 the union "declassified" that position so that a masters was no longer required. I watched and spoke up about the decline. I have documents from the 1990s where a group of social workers wanted the union to take stands to serve our clients. The union rep. guy didn't support our taking those kinds of stands.
The outcry of these unions claiming it's what DSHS workers wanted, what DEL workers wanted and/or what parents wanted...it's all made up. When that whole "collective bargaining" thing came down in 2004, we, on the inside were going "huh?" Most DSHS workers felt like they were between a rock and a hard place between the managers and the union reps.
There is so much federal taxpayer money floating around education and day care. I went to many of the Early Learning Council "public" meetings. When I testified one such day, I asked the audience members to raise their hands if they were NOT getting federal or state money. Out of about 60 people in the room, two raised their hands.
And if you are a private agency attempting to really address the issues, man, oh, man, if you anger the state bureaucratic manager who makes decisions about where the money goes, you lose the money. Some good programs went away because of that scenario. I also know high class agencies kept going, kept their integrity when their funds were threatened and then taken. Such agencies sometimes lost millions because of the abusive power the bureaucratic managers wielded.
We, the people, will take back our power and the government must be subordinate to we, the people once again. Sam Cooke sang, A Change Gonna Come and it's now, it's unfolding. Technology has surged passed the 1990s typing data into a computer no one will ever see it, to the technology of the 21st century which is rapidly helping us form communities once again. Jack Warner said in 1926, talkies will never work. You know, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers. History is happening now.
I give the legislature the most kudos because I have witnessed they have passed some pretty darn good laws. I also know they would have been happy to pass more good laws, but they are in a conundrum when we, the people, believe our voice doesn't count. I've written over and over again to the public that, indeed, your senators and representatives clearly want your input. We, the people input. Not, we the organized union, not we the special interest.
We, the people and we the workers didn't and don't want these modern abusive unions. They are not who they say they are. In terms of education we have to get rid of the 1850s model which was the Prussian education system, more specifically the Prussian Army.
In 100 hours kids can and do learn to read voraciously and love it. Creating a myriad of school models to assist their craving for learning based on what they are passionate about is right now an open book. A book that can be created in such a way kids and parents would be joyful.
I've done anecdotal research in my classes. Most people don't remember the mechanics of how they learned to read, most weren't in agony learning how to read and many are avid readers today.
George Carlin said he loved entropy. Let it crash. Let the fear mongers who say we can't survive without DSHS, DEL and Education unions, tell them we are not afraid.
We are a great country. Washington State is my home state and I will fight for the integrity of my home state and for all the little ones who I witnessed being treated unkindly; and for their parents who were dismissively put down. And I'll fight for the kids I saw in the public school education classes who were BORED!
Teaching a community class for the last five years, guess what DSHS, DEL and Teacher Unions, we, the people, citizens and parents are not dumb. Memo to DSHS, DEL and the unions, quit blaming parents and quit telling government workers that the citizens of Washington State of dumb.
I found and find folks are hungry and thirsty for truth telling. I found folks were readers, intuitive and critical thinkers. I found adult learners like kid learners don't want to be bored.
John Taylor Gatto, a New York Teacher of the Year and now author of such books as Weapons of Mass Instruction calculated only 100 hours are needed to teach someone to read. When my grandson was in agony trying to read the public school education way, luckily, I was reading Gatto's book on The Underground History of American Education.
Learning to read had been so easy for me I had forgotten the mechanics of how I learned to read. When I read Gatto's book, I went "Ah, ha!" and thus in no time my oldest grandson learned not only to read, but loved to read. He surged ahead so quickly one week on a Monday he quickly and happily did the whole week's worth of homework. Guess what? Like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, he got in trouble for "going ahead." He was so confused, here he had done a great thing and got in trouble for it.
I sub in a school district as a classroom assistant and I find kids are often times bored, so bored, they sometimes act out. Many of the classroom assistants are bored.
Most of us don't know where we got this "public education" system that is mind numbing to so many kids. "All in all, we're just another brick in the wall." (Pink Floyd) Like the shenanigans that brought in SEIU, the template for that started over 150 years ago when the National Education Association (NEA) was brought in...through an Act in Congress, a federal law.
Who were the "teachers" at that time who wanted this "association"? Teachers who had failed as entrepreneurs in putting together their own schools.
One of my father's refrains growing up was "you're a Democrat, you're union and you vote." OK, dad. So union supporter was I. So much so I organized a union in an area that had never been unionized before. As the years went on I became a DSHS social worker and union member I witnessed the decline of what it meant to be "union".
In 1988 a social worker III had to have masters degree. In 1989 the union "declassified" that position so that a masters was no longer required. I watched and spoke up about the decline. I have documents from the 1990s where a group of social workers wanted the union to take stands to serve our clients. The union rep. guy didn't support our taking those kinds of stands.
The outcry of these unions claiming it's what DSHS workers wanted, what DEL workers wanted and/or what parents wanted...it's all made up. When that whole "collective bargaining" thing came down in 2004, we, on the inside were going "huh?" Most DSHS workers felt like they were between a rock and a hard place between the managers and the union reps.
There is so much federal taxpayer money floating around education and day care. I went to many of the Early Learning Council "public" meetings. When I testified one such day, I asked the audience members to raise their hands if they were NOT getting federal or state money. Out of about 60 people in the room, two raised their hands.
And if you are a private agency attempting to really address the issues, man, oh, man, if you anger the state bureaucratic manager who makes decisions about where the money goes, you lose the money. Some good programs went away because of that scenario. I also know high class agencies kept going, kept their integrity when their funds were threatened and then taken. Such agencies sometimes lost millions because of the abusive power the bureaucratic managers wielded.
We, the people, will take back our power and the government must be subordinate to we, the people once again. Sam Cooke sang, A Change Gonna Come and it's now, it's unfolding. Technology has surged passed the 1990s typing data into a computer no one will ever see it, to the technology of the 21st century which is rapidly helping us form communities once again. Jack Warner said in 1926, talkies will never work. You know, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers. History is happening now.
I give the legislature the most kudos because I have witnessed they have passed some pretty darn good laws. I also know they would have been happy to pass more good laws, but they are in a conundrum when we, the people, believe our voice doesn't count. I've written over and over again to the public that, indeed, your senators and representatives clearly want your input. We, the people input. Not, we the organized union, not we the special interest.
We, the people and we the workers didn't and don't want these modern abusive unions. They are not who they say they are. In terms of education we have to get rid of the 1850s model which was the Prussian education system, more specifically the Prussian Army.
In 100 hours kids can and do learn to read voraciously and love it. Creating a myriad of school models to assist their craving for learning based on what they are passionate about is right now an open book. A book that can be created in such a way kids and parents would be joyful.
I've done anecdotal research in my classes. Most people don't remember the mechanics of how they learned to read, most weren't in agony learning how to read and many are avid readers today.
George Carlin said he loved entropy. Let it crash. Let the fear mongers who say we can't survive without DSHS, DEL and Education unions, tell them we are not afraid.
We are a great country. Washington State is my home state and I will fight for the integrity of my home state and for all the little ones who I witnessed being treated unkindly; and for their parents who were dismissively put down. And I'll fight for the kids I saw in the public school education classes who were BORED!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Department of Early Learning Complies with RCW 43.215.370 & Posts Child Day Care Licenses Which Have been Revoked, Suspended or Denied
I have been writing on my website and blog since 2007 about the Department of Early Learning's (DEL) failure to comply with a law passed by the legislature that year.
The example I linked is the licensed day care provider who murdered fourteen month old Charlotte Wetzel.
At least the ones I am familiar with seem to be on the DEL website including the Edith Goetz licensed day care where seven month old Jesse Hunt was the day he died.
I published on December 30, 2011 DSHS SECRETS - JESSE HUNT 1994 on Amazon.com to tell parents and the public some of the secrets I saw as the 20 year insider and whistle blower on DSHS. Jesse Hunt started my journey when I met his mom, Michelle Hunt. It has been important to all the moms and dads whose children were maimed and/or killed to let other parents know so other parents could protect their own children.
http://www.amazon.com/DSHS-SECRETS-JESSE-HUNT-ebook/dp/B006RNT7NK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328234984&sr=1-1
As the insider I know that suspended, revoked or denied child day care providers kept on providing care thus the reason your citizen legislature passed this law. With the maiming of nine month Colby Thompson in unlicensed care the Colby Thompson Act was passed last year on that risk to children; and posting of some of those sites is now a must because of your citizen legislature stepping forward.
If all are now listed I would certainly like to thank the person and/or persons who directed DEL to obey the law. Or perhaps Director Betty Hyde gave the order. I've always said I am willing to give kudos where the government serves, we the people. It may be once again I thank the legislature themselves for getting the department to comply with the law. So a thank you to...
Here's what the site looks like
Read the Child Care Check FAQs.
At any time, you may Leave feedback on your Child Care Check experience.
To report suspected or known child abuse or neglect, or for any licensing
complaints, call 866-END-HARM (363-4276)
https://apps.del.wa.gov/check/LicenseView.aspx?id=177128T
The example I linked is the licensed day care provider who murdered fourteen month old Charlotte Wetzel.
At least the ones I am familiar with seem to be on the DEL website including the Edith Goetz licensed day care where seven month old Jesse Hunt was the day he died.
I published on December 30, 2011 DSHS SECRETS - JESSE HUNT 1994 on Amazon.com to tell parents and the public some of the secrets I saw as the 20 year insider and whistle blower on DSHS. Jesse Hunt started my journey when I met his mom, Michelle Hunt. It has been important to all the moms and dads whose children were maimed and/or killed to let other parents know so other parents could protect their own children.
http://www.amazon.com/DSHS-SECRETS-JESSE-HUNT-ebook/dp/B006RNT7NK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328234984&sr=1-1
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| Digital List Price: | $0.99 What's this?  |
| Prime Members: | $0.00 (read for free) Prime Eligible |
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As the insider I know that suspended, revoked or denied child day care providers kept on providing care thus the reason your citizen legislature passed this law. With the maiming of nine month Colby Thompson in unlicensed care the Colby Thompson Act was passed last year on that risk to children; and posting of some of those sites is now a must because of your citizen legislature stepping forward.
If all are now listed I would certainly like to thank the person and/or persons who directed DEL to obey the law. Or perhaps Director Betty Hyde gave the order. I've always said I am willing to give kudos where the government serves, we the people. It may be once again I thank the legislature themselves for getting the department to comply with the law. So a thank you to...
Here's what the site looks like
Child Care Check
| JOHNSON ROBIN I Doing Business As Robin Johnson | Data current as of 02/01/2012 |
| Provider ID | 177128 | Current License Status | License Closed |
| Facility Type | Family Home Provider | License Closure Date | 6/9/1998 |
| License Closure Reason | Suspended |
This provider is no longer a licensed provider. DEL has made the decision to not show any complaints for closed providers.
At any time, you may Leave feedback on your Child Care Check experience.
To report suspected or known child abuse or neglect, or for any licensing
complaints, call 866-END-HARM (363-4276)
https://apps.del.wa.gov/check/LicenseView.aspx?id=177128T
Monday, January 9, 2012
Day Care, Food Programs and the Military
In 2011 retired generals testified to the Washington State legislature to focus on high quality daycare and preschools because they are afraid they won't have enough young people join the military when the economy gets better. It's the same reason the federal government started the federal food program during WW II. Makes you ponder, ey?
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