Cosmetology or Childcare: A Bias Toward Beauty?

In my roughly 10 years as a childcare provider, I've witnessed some things at daycare facilities that would make a parent cringe. From classrooms being grossly out of ratio, to staff being poorly trained and barely even screened by their employers, to outright negligence of children's needs, to unauthorized corporal punishment, a lot goes on at childcare facilities that would shock parents. 

But just how surprised should you be? We live in a state where we place more value on chipped nails than our children. 

According to South Carolina Department of Social Services, caregivers and teachers are required to have only six hours of training in child growth and development and early childhood education. If not, they can still work under the direct supervision of a caregiver as long as that supervisor has one year experience as a teacher in a licensed facility.  

Let me assure you, not even these standards are met. I have worked at facilities in the past that have hired completely untrained personnel and immediately placed them into a classroom on their own. If DSS licensing specialist were to show up, no biggie -  the director can just slip a more experienced teacher in the room at a moment's notice to give the appearance of a supervising teacher's presence in the class. I've also seen directors put these inexperienced teachers in a classroom toward the end of the school day, since they don't expect DSS to check in with them past 4 p.m. 

These acts of sleight of hand are often coupled with stern warnings to teachers not to volunteer any information to DSS that could lead to a write-up. 

"Don't let them know you haven't had your CPR certification yet," I once heard a director say. "Unless of course, they ask." 

Failure to heed such warnings, some directors explain, will result in the teachers' termination at the daycare. 

A childcare teacher must have at least a high school diploma or GED, and at least six months experience as a teacher in a licensed childcare facility. In this case, anyone with a diploma or GED that passes a background check can provide care for a child. 

Unfortunately, in many situations, the childcare industry provides employment opportunities viewed more as transitional "stepping stone" jobs, rather than those interested in a longterm career track. In South Carolina, we love a bargain, and we've not shown a willingness to raise minimum education and training requirements, because doing so would obviously raise the average cost of care due to higher salary demands.

That may seem reasonable, until you realize that we worry more about the qualifications of our hairdressers and nail technicians than we do about those in whom we entrust our children. 

According to the South Carolina Department of Licensing, Labor and Regulations, a cosmetologist must take and pass a written and practical exam, successfully complete 1,500 hours in a cosmetology school, become licensed as a registered master hair care specialist for a period of five years, submit an application and pay the prescribed fee.

A cosmetologist is required to have 1,494 more hours of training than a childcare provider. A cosmetologist is also required to pass an exam. A childcare teacher is not required to even take an exam for the field.

Now, I love getting my hair cut, styled and highlighted. I am in no way making light of what a cosmetologist does. I expect my hair to look great when I leave a salon because I know my hairdresser is a trained professional. But, can the same be said for the people who take care of our children while we are at work? How can we expect our children to be properly provided for by people who have little to no training?

According to the state department of labor, nail technicians must submit an application, pass an exam and complete 450 hours of classwork in a nail technician school. That's 444 more hours than a childcare provider. That's yet again a required exam not seen in the childcare field. 

South Carolina, whether you're a parent, a lawmaker or just a citizen, it is time to focus on the early stages of our youngest generation's lives.

Childcare teachers should have to meet more standards and requirements before being allowed to care for a child. If we as a state demand that our beauticians are well-trained, it stands to reason that we should demand from our lawmakers, from our child care facilities and from ourselves that our children's caregivers are experts, too.