Should I or should I not? Help me decide!(updated!)

[TheOtherVillainess]

DH researched the laws regarding how much pre-service training daycare employees are supposed to have. It turns out that by not giving me the proper amount of training, the director of the daycare where I worked up until this last Weds, has violated the law.

Now I am thoroughly confused. I'm not sure if I should just let it go and chalk it up to learning experience or if I should report her. Because I am not the only employee who was denied the proper amount of pre-service training required by law.

So what do I do?


*UPDATE--I went ahead and reported her. I wasn't planning on suing her (I think Bob mentioned saving legal fees), but reporting her. Which I have done because what M (the director) has done is unfair. Not only to me but to the other employees who are improperly trained. It's not fair to the kids who have to go there every day and it's not fair to the parents who THINK they are putting their kids in a safe enviroment.
TOV

 

[alliecats]

Hey, TOV. I am behind--may have missed some of your posts. I thought you worked in a lunchroom? Maybe I misunderstood or I am thinking of someone else. Are you still working at the daycare?

 

[salmoneous]

I think it depends upon what you are trying to accomplish by reporting her.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

alliecats--The first week of Feb I was dismissed from my cafeteria job because of things I posted way back in DECEMBER in a myspace blog (which no longer exists). Nothing I posted was about my job, my coworkers or even had anything to do with the school district I worked with. It was all my own personal views about certain subjects, which some might have found offensive. I also used a few choice words, which some might also have found offensive.

Somehow (I'm not sure, to be totally honest) a student at the local high school found the blog (which nobody but a few of my friends knew about, to my knowledge anyway). Student A passes it on to Student B, who just happens to be the son of the director of HR. Student B shows his father what he found and his dad recognizes me from a photo I'd posted. Shortly thereafter I was fired.

About a month or so after I was fired from the school, I took a job at a daycare where I was only given maybe 3 hrs of pre-service training. They 'tried' me in an infant room (ages 6-12 mos) and decided it wasn't working out. Granted, they only tried me for 2 days, but that was enough to tell them it wouldn't work I suppose.

I was then moved to a classroom for 24-36 mos olds. I was the 'asst teacher' and was totally unprepared for what was to happen. The very first day I was in there, nobody told me that after 5 pm (when the lead teacher went home) I would be left with 5 or 6 children and it was completely overwhelming for me. I went home in tears that first night.

Over the next couple of weeks it got better, but not much so. There was one incidence of a child being left on the playground alone accidentally and two escapes by another child. The reason they were able to escape is that, by law, you are not allowed to put a lock on the doors leading to the outside in case of emergency (fire, etc). There was a lock which enabled the door to be locked, but only if you were outside. The door would be locked from the outside, but if you were inside you could still open the door. Still with me?

Anyway..one day last week when I was alone with 4 children, two of the kids got into a fight. One of the kids involved was a known biter and while I tried to seperate them and keep the biter from chomping down on somebody, one of the little escape artists did in fact get out.

I stepped next door to the other 24-36 mos classroom and asked the teacher there to watch my kids while I retrieved the escapee. She replied that she would go get him and bring him back. Which she did and then took it upon herself to put him in timeout in her room.

Later, she told the director, who was understandably upset with me and made it seem like that if E (the other teacher in the next room) quit, it would be all my fault. When I explained the situation, the director's suggestion was to put a table in front of the door. Yeah like THAT"S not a fire hazard?

I was afraid for my job after that and knew it would probably only be a short time until I was fired. I was totally correct in this. On Tues, the lead teacher who is normally in my room has her day off. There were two other leads who traded off during the day in my room that day and around 5 pm, the director comes to me and asks that I talk with her once my shift is over with. I am totally floored by this and spend the next hour sweating bullets.

So once I am finished, the room is cleaned and whatnot, I go to the director, who asks me and the 'educational coordinator' to step into her office. The director informs me there have been too many 'incidents' whatever that means and that she is going to have to let me go. I am so shocked I don't know what to say. When I ask about my final paycheck and when I can pick it up, I am told it will be mailed to me. I get the impression I am not welcome in the building any longer. Not even as a paying customer, if I chose to put my child into their care. Which I wouldn't.

So that's my story. I'm searching for another job right now and I've applied various places, includng a local grocery store where one of the mgrs (who knows DH) said they need serious help during their AM shifts. So maybe I"ll end up at a grocery store. I dunno. I know it probably won't pay much, but something is better than nothing right now.

TOV

 

[Bob Slydell]

Save the legal fees and put them towards your job search.

 

[RUDisney]

I would report this. The director of the DC is affecting the lives of the children that are there during the day. The fact that she doesn't have safety latches and such is HUGE and the fact that the staff is inadequately trained demonstrates that she is in it for the money and not for the safety and welfare of the kids.

She needs to shape up or be closed.

You'll be doing a service to every child in the facility by reporting her.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Bumped for the update!

 

[Bob Slydell]

I would report this. The director of the DC is affecting the lives of the children that are there during the day. The fact that she doesn't have safety latches and such is HUGE and the fact that the staff is inadequately trained demonstrates that she is in it for the money and not for the safety and welfare of the kids.

She needs to shape up or be closed.

You'll be doing a service to every child in the facility by reporting her.

Keep in mind you're hearing one side of this story -- the side from a person who lasted all of a couple weeks at this school and who has a history of repeatedly getting fired from jobs.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Actually I have only been fired twice in my life Bob. Once from the school district for exercising my first amendment rights to free speech and now from the daycare.

TOV

 

[dcgrumpy]

yes, but you've had major issues with all your employers.

 

[va32h]

Sounds like a pretty typical daycare to me, quite honestly.

I worked in daycares and preschools for several years. Employees had to take continuing courses on child development and classroom management techniques, but actual "training" was hands on.

You can't learn how to take care of children without actually getting in there and taking care of them.

One teacher with five 2-3 year olds is actually an impressive ratio. I would routinely have 8-10 toddlers in my care, and up to 20 4-5 year olds. It all depends on the state-mandated ratios.

It would have been nice if a more experienced caregiver could have spent more time with you. Daycares are notorious for operating on shoestring budgets, though. The insurance costs alone are enormous. Most parents couldn't or wouldn't pay the rates daycares would need to charge to provide the optimal care and staff ratios.

I would suggest your next job not involve childcare. It is stressful work, and it doesn't sound like a good fit for you.

 

[BuckNaked]

The fact that she doesn't have safety latches and such is HUGE and the fact that the staff is inadequately trained demonstrates that she is in it for the money and not for the safety and welfare of the kids.

I would also keep in mind that it's a business, so of course the owner is in it for the money. That's not to say that safety and training issues shouldn't be paramount, but let's at least be realistic about why businesses are in business.

 

[cardaway]

Keep in mind you're hearing one side of this story -- the side from a person who lasted all of a couple weeks at this school and who has a history of repeatedly getting fired from jobs.

There is also the factor of the parents coming in there every day. If they were seeing things they didn't like you can bet they would do something about it. There is also the accident rate, as in.. if there hasn't been any then things are likley in good shape.

Given the high turnover in these centers is it expected that some will be in the process of getting their training, not having it all when they are hired. The requirments change from year to year, and there is required further education, so there is no way everybody could be always fully trained.

 

[debster812]

OK--so you'ver reported her, what do you hope the outcome is? I guess I mean to say, what do you hope that this accomplishes?

I also think that whoever you reported this to, will probably take it with a fairly large grain of salt, since you were recently terminated. (The whole disgruntled ex-employee scenario). I wouldn't get your hopes too high that much will come of this, unless you are one of many voices all making the same complaints.

JMHO of course.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Over the next couple of weeks it got better, but not much so. There was one incidence of a child being left on the playground alone accidentally and two escapes by another child. The reason they were able to escape is that, by law, you are not allowed to put a lock on the doors leading to the outside in case of emergency (fire, etc). There was a lock which enabled the door to be locked, but only if you were outside. The door would be locked from the outside, but if you were inside you could still open the door. Still with me?

Did the director know about the child getting left onl the playground? If so, you're lucky you weren't fired then.

 

[ducklite]

It sounds like maybe you aren't cut out to work in an environment with kids. By your own admission, you left in tears the first day.

Frankly while I know working in a day care would NOT be for me (NO WAY!!! LOL!), I also feel that I could manage caring for five toddler/preschoolers without escapes and fights and everything else, and without leaving in tears.

Frankly, with or without "training," counting heads to make sure you aren't missing a kid when coming in off the plaground or back from the lunch room or on a field trip is pretty much just common sense...

Do you have computer skills? Why not sign up with a temp agency and see about getting a 9-5 as a receptionist. Over half the temp jobs out there these days are temp to perm, if you work out you become a permenant employee of teh company you start out as a temp at. Even with minimal skills it would be a way to get your foot in the door in the business world--which long term is going to be a better career choice.

Anne

 

[Mskanga]

There was one incidence of a child being left on the playground alone accidentally and two escapes by another child.

That would be enough for me to fire anyone....sorry but that's how I feel.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

so of course the owner is in it for the money.

You can bet she's in it for the money. From what I was told, the owner ran a daycare out of her home and had too many people asking to use her services to continue doing so. She also is building a second facility within probably 10-20 miles of the first one.

That would be enough for me to fire anyone....sorry but that's how I feel

I'm sure that was part of it. She didn't explain about the 'incidents' that led to my termination, but I'm sure that's what she meant. And to be honest, I would've fired me too. It was totally my fault and I admit that. It should have NEVER happened.

Frankly while I know working in a day care would NOT be for me (NO WAY!!! LOL!), I also feel that I could manage caring for five toddler/preschoolers without escapes and fights and everything else, and without leaving in tears.

Oh it was only 5 AFTER the lead teacher left for the day. For the most part there would be anywhere from 10-14 kids from around 8 am or so until well after 3 or 4 pm.

Did the director know about the child getting left onl the playground? If so, you're lucky you weren't fired then

She knew. I'm not sure how, but she knew and I was reprimanded severely, as well as written up.

OK--so you'ver reported her, what do you hope the outcome is? I guess I mean to say, what do you hope that this accomplishes?

What do I hope the outcome is? I hope that staff is trained better from here on out, honestly. Maybe it'll make a difference I don't know. Surely it will be better for the kids. Maybe it'll be enough to make the director wake up and realize that sh e is putting the lives of kids in danger every single day her daycare is open with the practices she has in place now. But that's it. I don't want money. I don't want to be on the news. I would just like to see things operate differently. That's all.

I had no idea how horrible the daycare industry was until I experienced it for myself. And if it is up to me, I will never put my son in that kind of enviroment. I would walk over coals and live inside my car before I put him into the kinds of situations I experienced on a daily basis at the daycare.

TOV

 

[disneyjunkie]

I had no idea how horrible the daycare industry was until I experienced it for myself. And if it is up to me, I will never put my son in that kind of enviroment. I would walk over coals and live inside my car before I put him into the kinds of situations I experienced on a daily basis at the daycare.TOV

So you worked in a daycare for a few weeks and have come to the conclusion that the WHOLE industry is awful.

I've taught in day care centers for 10 years. I currently teach kindergarten in a city funded day care center. We have the same education and certification as public school teachers (Of course our salary is much lower )

I've never had a director tell me to count students when moving from one place to another. There has to be a point when everyday common sense kick in.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Maybe after a decade in the business, it's common sense to you NOW. But think about the beginning..when you had no experience in the field. It may not have been so 'common sense'' then as it is now. *shrug* But what do I know?

TOV