Responses of Margaret Murray, Parent of a Day Care Child, Waterbury, Vt.

1.) Since the hearing that was held in Vermont, the

2.)

AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers have
taken a firm stand that local school agencies
should be prime sponsors for any child and family
services program.
As an individual who is involved

in the operation of such a program, we should very
much appreciate your views on this matter.

The important aspect of any child development program
is to strengthen the family structure in our county
and to that extent the bill provides for direct
parent involvement in child care programs. To what
extent do you think parents should be involved in
the policy making and day to day operations of child
development programs, and how is the best way to
gain parent participation and involvement in your
programs?

1) No. Education is too large.
system.

2) Change the basic HEW theory.... pist enough to

Mr. Vijusay

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Percent of a Day Care Chesil Wath Curry

Replies to questions:

M. Seymour
Parent of a Chilit in Day Care
Builing F

1) I believe that it is favorable in many ways that local school boards and authorities seem to be taking a greater interest in the development of children before they reach school age, and yet, I find that same involvement alarming. Nowhere in this question do I find mention of the child and his/her family. Elementary schools are notorious for their lack of family involvement and I'd be really concerned that this would get lost in the administrative take-over. Parents should have a veice a good loud one, in the making of policy for their children. I also believe that the integration of the family into the larger community is important for the helath of the family too - works both ways.

2) I believe that education, at all levels from"pre-school" through college
and graduate school, should be freely available to everyone. It seems
that such a program would orly be possible through the funding and re-
sources of the federal government, but it should be administered by
the recipients who know better than anyone else their own needs.
Profits should not be made on learning. I would favor government sup-
ported, small scale and family administered

non-profit- day care.

3) This question is basically answered by the two above. The more parenta' involvement the better, but most nine-five jobs being what they are we will have to have some mide-spread reforms, I believe to make this possible. Parents could perhaps be given a certain number of hours free from their jobs to participate in day care during the day, when the children are there. This would bbviously involve the co-operation f* of employers, to nay absent workers, and I'm pretty cynical about that, but it's what I'd like to see.

There are many other than obvious ways that parents can assist in real ways in the center operation - providing transportation, for example, or sharing interests and skills woodworking, maybe or reading aloud to

Responses of Margaret Murray, Parent of a Day Care

1.) Since the hearing that was held in Ve AFL-CIO and the American Federation o

2.)

h. Seymour

taken a firm stand that local school.ace street beards
As an individual vein the develop-

should be prime sponsors for any chil
services program.

in the operation of such a program,
much appreciate your views on this m

I find that

Cotton do I find men

The important aspect of any child decools are rotor

is to strengthen the family structur
and to that extent the bill provides
parent involvement in child care pro
extent do you think parents should !

really

e take-over. Parents

the policy making and day to day opaxing of policy for
gain parent participation and involation of the family

development programs, and how is th

programs?

The helath of the f-mily

hh the funding and re

ld be administered by else their own needs.

wild favor government sup

2) Change the basic Theory pist,

-profit- day care.

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Seymour

I believe that it is unrealistic to expect to make it mandatory for parents to participate unless you can pay them, just as they would be paid for their time on the job, so perhaps the place to focus your concern might be in the area of making incentives to companies or other employers who make it possible, financially and transportationwise, for their employees to spend time in the centers.

Parents should be fully involved in all aspects of policy and day to day ●perations of the centers, though for each to be fully participatory and functional would take time and training, on the parts of both parents and staff. Much energy and talent is available, in parents, though, that is often overlooked. The key, as I said above, is through employers, though. Peoples lives home, job, schools, are too fragmented there has to be more caring, on the parts of bosses, administrators, school and family.