May I please introduce Carolyn Bunting from Heppenheim, Germany as one of my international contacts. She is originally from the UK, and now resides and teaches in Germany. My other international contact is Isabella Cacciari from Bologna, Italy. She is Italian and does not speak English. My questions and her answers are translated by her sister -in-law and my friend.
Isabella teaches public preschool (ages 3 - 5). In Europe, children attend their version of "public" school from ages 3 until 16. School is 9am - 5 pm to better accommodate parents. She says she has not worked around much poverty. She feels that the government stipends for families with children, child care assistance, and health care are the main reasons things are better there.
Carolyn has said much the same to me. Central Europe provides government stipends for families with children. Universal health care eliminates expensive health care premiums, childcare is subsidized and school ages have been arranged to eliminate the need for after school care. Parents have more time to spend with their children and things are made a bit easier for them financially because of the help of the government.
My insights from all this has told me that Europe is a good place to have children because the European governments recognize children as important resources worth investing in. I am angry that the United States fails to acknowledge our children as the important resource they are. Where is the support that Europe offers? Why don't we have a similar program in place? We are trillions of dollars in debt, and have a large population living in poverty! Europe is broke too, but there doesn't seem to be the poverty that is prevalent in the United States!
Deb, This makes me angry as well, WE as American say we value our childrens wel-beng; actions speaks louder then words. Europe is leadng by example.
ReplyDeleteHello Deb,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you were able to make a great contact with teachers from Europe. I like the ideal that the children are in school from 9-5 to accommodate parents as they work. The govertment giving out stipends and Universal Health care is a great thing.
It is fantastic that you acquired contacts from two different countries in Europe. After reading your post I am also interested in the fact that they are not experiencing the same kind of poverty that we are. I know that their counties are having economic troubles at this time so it is interesting that they don't allow that to impact the children. Are country could do so much more if both sides could get together. There always seems to be one side that does not want to pay to help children.
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