Child care workers should be paid well

Regarding the April 14 article 'Day care costs rising” on the high cost of child care and the comparison of the cost of college tuition:

Think about the cost per hour of child care and tuition. Using the figures given in the article, $9,053 per year for child care, at five days a week, 50 weeks, 10 hours a day gives us 2,510 hours at a cost of $3.60 per hour.

The cost for tuition for one school year was $7,830. The average student takes 18 hours per semester or 36 per school year. Thus, the tuition cost per hour is $217.50. A college professor earns a salary, benefits and pension. What does a child care provider earn?

Research shows early caregivers are the most important influence in the child's life. They are responsible for the life of the child, the development of language, social interaction, health, exercise, eating habits, toilet habits and general life skills. By the time the child reaches college, he is responsible for his own learning, so the college professor has a limited role in a person's development. Which worker is more valued in society?

We need to recognize the value of the work of the people who take care of the babies and young children. We need to respect the parents who stay home with their own children. If we want a higher quality of child care, we must be willing to pay for it.

I have been a day care provider, a college instructor and a mother at home.

Julia A. Bickel

Cedar Rapids