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2 THE LIBERAL, Rich Parents And Professionals Oppose Proposed Changes In Day Care Read Editorial on Page 4 mlnmunmlmum“3l}lIunumqmumggm\gmmmmuu muuumuuu ,,,,, The small centre in Aurora is operating at capacity with 36 children registered and 10 on the waiting list. In New- market there are 106 chil- dren registered and 165 on the waiting list. L-... un. u ...v.__ These figures may, how- ever. not be an accurate re- flection of the actual needs in these communities, says Dr. Ian Kerr, Assistant Com- missioner of Health and Wel- fare for the region. When people find out how many are ahead of them on the list. they do not bother to leave their names, but make whatever private arrange- ments they can. I lm“â€"'i‘v}v1e;e"'are probably seve- ral hundred others." Dr. Kerr surmises. uvua uâ€" w â€"-v . will not be uhless abproved when the Legislature re-con- venes in October. (Judging from the number of advertisements that ap- pear each week in this paper for day care, Dr. Kerr’s as- sessment would appear to be correct.) YORK STANDARDS HIGH He points out that the changes in day care regula- tions are not official yet and ‘Nor is there anything in the proposal as Dr. Kerr un- derstands it that would force the region to change its own regulations. ,A -0..- “The region can set supe- rior standards, but that would be up to region (York Regional Council). It would be a political decision." York has done very well in the matter of day care services, says Dr. Kerr. It has plans for a new, larger day care centre in Richmond Hill in the civic centre on Vaughan Road. and it is pre- paring day care facilities in the shell of Markham Com- munity Centre. “There are many areas in greater need," he said. In her statement Mrs. Birch points out that the so- cial services that govern- ments provide have been in the areas of highest need and highest cost: education, health care, etc. Because of the huge cost and necessarily universal ap- plication of these kinds of services, she says, they have been most often financed en- tirely through taxation and were available on a “free” basis to everyone. As a result, taxes have‘ grown larger. In Ontario pro- vincial government spending in the social policy field grew eightfold from 1961 to 1971. an average increase of 23 percent every year. DAY CARE NOT FREE Day care in regional cen- tres is subsidized, but not free, however. Parents pay $25 a week for one child, $20 for a second child and $17 for a third. Subsidies for care are available to those who cannot pay the full amount and might end up on welfare rolls if day care was not available to them. There are also capital sub- sidies. In a letter sent out to municipalities earlier this month by Minister of Com- munity and Social Services Rene Brunelle, the Minister announced that the province will pay 100 percent of the capital cost of converting available space in churches, community halls, etc. to day care purposes and 80 percent of the cost of building new facilities. The Minister also referred to the province’s intention to promote programs qf “priv- ate home care" as outlined in Mrs. Birch's statement. SALARIES LOW Local day care workers would probably take time off to laugh at Mrs. Birch's re- ference to "relatively highly- paid professionals" if they were not too busy trying to balance their personal bud- gets. Qualified teachers, usually graduates of a two-year course in early childhood education at a community college or similar institution, earn frm $5,650 to $6,778. The head of a day care unit for the mentally retarded who works four hours a day five days a week earns only $3,936 a year. Supervisors get $9,327 (one of these has a master's degree in pre- school care, another more than 15 years' experience in the field) and assistant su- pervisors earn $7,922 a year. By comparison a public school teacher in the region in the lowest category (one THE LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Wednesday, July 31, 1974 BY MARGARET LADE year at teachers' college after high school graduation) earns $5,950, and with annual increases can work up to $8,690 a year plus cost of living bonus of $70 a year for each percentage increase above 6.5. Secondary school teachers with a pass BA and a year at college of education have a starting salary of $8,100 a year. The assistant supervisor at Richmond Hill Day Care Centre, Gwendelyn Cardwell, accuses the politicians of being “more money conscious than people conscious.” The training given to stu- dents is very intensive, says Mrs. Cardwell, but they do not have the status of profes- sionals, “The salaries are dxsgustingly low tor a teach- er with two years’ training plus years of experience. A road sweeper gets more money.” She accuses politicians of "mouthing platitudes but not saying that they wxll do something . . . to them money 15 a dlrty word." The Richmond Hill centre has, in addition to the su- pervisor, Johanna Kunze, and assistant supervisor, three certified teachers, two teachers who are taking courses in early childhood education and one who has no formal training but has had many years of experi- ence in day care. In addition a University of Toronto graduate who plans to_ go into early childhood education in the fall is work- ing at the centre through the summer. Students in the courses at Seneca College’s Finch and King campuses also come in to do field work for varying periods of time, and students in the child care course at Don Head Se- condary come in periodically for a two-week work-study experience. Another student with an Opportunities For Youth grant who plans to go into early childhood education in the fall is assisting staff during vacation time. Staff may take vacations, but the centre does not, says Mrs. Cardwell (Mrs. Kunze is vacation this month). Enrolment does not drOp during the summer. NEEDS CONSTANT “They are coming in every day, we are absolutely des- perate," Mrs. Car-well says. "It would be very damaging to increase the ratio. This is not Just a baby-sitting serv- ice. You cannot cope with children on a one-to-one basis if you do not have knowledge of what day care is all about. We work in close co-operation with men- tal health and. other services. Parents are made aware of their children‘s problems much earlier.” These problems, she says, might remain undetected until they became serious if the children were left in the care of people not atune to the normal behaviour pat- terns of children and to the child as an individual. The centre has received an average of three calls a day from parents seeking day care since school let out in June, she says, and people are "hostile" when they are told about the waiting list. The day care centre, says Mrs. Cardwell, is a child- geared atmosphere. Rules are laid down, but the chil- dren are free to be creative. to learn new skills, to be in- dividuals. But they are also apathe- tic. They cannot be persuadâ€" e dto petition for more ade- quate day care; facilities. “They do 110% want to stick their necks out. to do any- thing about it," Mrs. Card- well declares. The professionals are du- bious about the “flexibility of choice" in day care as outlined in Mrs. Birch's statement. She proposes to‘ make funds available to local and voluntary organizations to establish day care pro- grams. removing provisions that in the past have inter- fered with development of such programs, thus permit- ting much broader participa- tion by the parents them- selves in the design and de- livery of day care services. VOLUNTEER CENTRES They are particularly con- cerned about the proposal that where no fees are in- volved. where no satff is hired and where all the care is provided by parents themselves on a voluntary basis, the arrangement shall be left entirely to the par- ents and will not come under the Day Nurseries Act. The plan, says Mrs. Birch. is to encourage more parent and volunteer involvement in all day care programs, and the ministry has increa- “We will, of course, con- tinue to require that super- visors of day care centres nave specialized knowledge, but once again we will re- cognize relevant experience rather than relying solely on any professional back- ground," says Mrs. Birch. “We believe that this more flexible approach to staff qualifications will not result in any lower standard of care, but it will permit much wider involvement by parents and volunteers in day care programs and it will permit voluntary groups to operate programs more economically." NEW POLICY SET-BACK Mrs. Helen Hill, who ope- rates the Fairlawn Junior Séhool on Yonge Street south of Highway '7 charg- es that such a policy would set back the standards of day care 20 years. .. “‘1‘, 7â€"- - “If you take on unquali- fied staff, the children are sold short,” says Mrs. Hill} It does not follow that be- cause a woman is a good mother she [will be a good :eacher when she is placed in charge of a number of very young children. Mrs. Hill, who has been in the field for 20 years and has a summer en- rolment of 100, says that it is most important that the ratio of children to teach- ers should not be increased, even though it would cut her own staff budget. The learning atmosphere and the close child to teacher relationship must‘ be kept up, says Mrs. Hill, and this would not be pos- sible under the proposed change in ratio. One teach- er for 14 children in a half- day program is not enough for the under-five-year-olds. Mrs. Hill questions the validity of the two-year study referred to in Mrs. Birch’s statement. A recent meeting to discuss its im- plications took place at the University of Toronto’s In- stitute For Child Study, she says. and of the 150 junior schools and day care centres represented, only one person had been inter- viewed. The researcher had not observed the school in action SCHOOLS NOT CONSULTED The study, she said had been based on research in just 27 centres. A much broader sampling of repre- sentatives of day care cen- tres and junior schools have a voice before the pro- posed changes are made ef- fective. There is no question of the need for an expanded service, saYS Mrs. Hill. “The number of children in pro- per day care is minimal. The others are under the care of anyone." One of th preoblems is that many politicians still think that mothers are working because they want to. foisting their children off on others. Thornhill and Richmond Hill are growing rapidly, she points out, and the need for day care is increasing proportionately. Her school is filled to capacity the year round. This is totally wrong, says Mrs. Hill. In her experience. the majority of mothers are working because they need the money. This is increa- singly obvious in rural and formally rural areas. ‘ Parent groups have been organizing throughout the province protesting w h a t they consider a lowering of standards in child care, and one regional newspaper re- ceived more than 40 letters from parents and educators. All of these. however, have originated in communities where well organized public day care is available, even though inadequate to meet the demand. In her statement Mrs. Birch recognizes the grow- ing participation by women in the labor force and de- clares that the province will continue to regulate the ser- vices that are provided while leaving to the parents the choices of the care for their children. DISADVANTAGED FAVORED She has set priorities. The first is establishment and delivery of day care services to handicapped children with subsidies that will assure that the costs to families will be no greater than the costs of the equivalent ser- vices to children who are not disabled (York has two day care units for mentally 'inRENTs PROTECT retarded children) The second priority will be provision of funds to assist children from low income families and native children in need of day care, providing them with more opportunity to learn and to grow. The third priority is the local and voluntary organiza- tion, Regulations will be revised to ease some existing restrictions, and the Ministry of Education will work with local school boards to con- vert surplus school facilities to day care use. Day care centres are re- quired to provide meals for children in their care. This has called for full-equipped kitchens and staff who pre- pare meals according to dietary standards set out by the Day Nurseries Branch. (Richmond Hill Day Care Centre has a housekeeping staff of three in addition to teaching staff â€" a cook. assistant cook and house- keeper. They provide a morn- ing snack â€" some children arrive without having had breakfast â€"â€" a hot midâ€"day meal, and an afternoon snack.) The Ministry. says Mrs IN THE MATTER of an application by the Minister of Transportation and Comm- unications for approval to expropriate lands being in the Town of Markham. in the Town of Vaughan and in the Town of Richmond Hill. in the Regional Municipality of York. in the Province of Ontario. for the purpose of acquiring sufficient land to accommodate the reconstruction of the King's Highway 11 and portions of cer- tain intersecting roads in connection therewith. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that application has been made for approval to expropriate the land described in the schedule hereto. Any owner of lands in respect of which notice is given who desires an inquiry into whether the taking of such land is fair, sound and reasonably necessary in the achievement of the objectives of the expropriating authority shall so notify the approving authority in writing. (a) in the case of a registered owner. served personally or by registered mail with- in thirty days after he is served with the notice. or, when he is served by publication. within thirty days after the first publication of the notice; (b) in the case of an owner who is not a registered owner.,within thirty days after the first publication of the notice. THE APPROVING AUTHORITY IS Minister of m ______ “an”... and r‘nmmunioatinns Minister of Transportation and Communications Parliament Buildings Toronto. Ontario. Mm 128 NOTES: 1. The Expropriations Act provides (a) where an inquiry isflrequest All right, title and interest in the following lands: 1. In the Town of Markham, in the Regional Municipality of York, (formerly in the Township of Markham, in the County of York). in the Province of Ontario, being (1) (a) parts of Lot 32. Concession l, of the Township of Markham, designated as PARTS 1 and 2 (b) part of Lot 33. Concession 1, of the Township of Markham, designated as PART 3 * on Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Plan P-1698-186 deposited in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R 3251 (2) (a) part of Block A, Registered Plan Number 7695, for the Township of Markham, designated as PART 4 (b) parts of Lot 33, Concession 1, of the Township of Markham. designated as PARTS 5. 6, 7 and 9 (c) part of Lots 1, 2 and 3, Registered Plan Number 4184. for the Town- ship of Markham. designated at PART 11 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Plan P4698475 deposited in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Bomughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3072. (3) (a) part of Lot 6, Registered Plan Number 4184, for the Township of Mark- ham. designated as PART 2 (b) part of Lot 7, Registered Plan Number 4184, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 3 (c) part of Lot 4. Registered Plan Number 4184, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 1 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications‘ Plan P-1698-182. deposited in the Land Registry Office for .the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3143, 2. In the Town of Vaughan, in the Regional Municipality of York, (formerly in the Township of Vaughan. in the County of York), in the Province of Ontario. being NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO EXPROPRIATE LAND (vb) (2) (a) part of Block H. Plan M-681, for the Township of Vaughan. designated as PART 1 (b) parts of Block B. Plan M-681, for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PARTS 2 and 3 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Plan P-1698.183, recorded in the Land Registry Office for the Land Titles Division of Toronto and York as Plan 66 R-7006 (3) (a) part 'of Lot 1. Registered Plan Number 3765, for the Township of Vaugh- an. designated as PART 1 (b) part of Lot 33. Concession 1, of the Township of Vaughan. designated as PART 2 (c) part of Lot 5, Registered Plan Number 3765, for the Township of Vaugh- an, designated as PART 4 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Plan P-1698-176, deposited in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3103. In the Town of Richmond Hill. in the Regional Municipality of York, (form- erly in the Township of Markham. in the County of York). in the Province of Ontario. being (1) part of Lot 34. Concession 1. of the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 14 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications‘ Plan P-1698-182, deposited in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3143 Expropriations Act provides that, where an inquiry is requested, it shall be conducted by an inquiry officer appointed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General; the inquiry officer, (i) shall give every party to‘tfie inquiry an opportunity to present evidence and argument and to examine and cross-examine witnesses, either per- sonally or by his counsel or agent, and L_ nan :nnnh-u (1) (a) part of Lot 36. as PART 1 (b) part of Lot 37. 85 PART 2 (c) part of Lot 38. g PART 4 # Birch, is now granting licen- ses to centres with no kit- chens if they have made adequate arrangements for catering. CHANGE REGULATIONS At present regulations re- quire that whenever more than five unrelated children will be present without all of their parents also being present, the accommodation comes under the require- ments of the Day Nurseries Act and must be licensed as- a day care centre. The alternative Mrs. Birch suggests is the voluntary centre with no fees involved and parents and volunteers participating. But the ques- tion parents are asking is. how can parents participate when they must work to earn a living, and h0w can the operators of such centres subsist without a fee? PAY “DISGRACEFUL” At a recent meeting of the region's health and welfare committee Georgina Coun- cillor Bob Pollock described .the salaries paid to some day care teachers as “dis- graceful”. Now, the day care workers point out, the pro- vince is asking people to come forward and provide this service for nothing! Concession 1. oncession oncession SCHEDULE > deJ for the Township of Vaughan. designated of the Township of the Township of the Township Minister of Transportation and Communications W. G. Wigle Director. Right-ofâ€"Way Branch. One day care teacher commented, “A single girl should be able to live on her salary on a full-time job, but we can’t on what they pay n Staff should be approved on the basis of individual competence and experience rather than by any particular set of professional quali- fications, says Mrs. Birch. Community college gradu- ates who have the required skills and knowledge would serve as supervisors, but a more flexible approach to staff qualification will per- mit wider involvement of staff lacking these qualifica- tions. N0 FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS “We will require no for- mal qualifications for staff in the supplementary after- school programs for six to nine year olds." says Mrs. Birch. These changes. she main- tains. will permit voluntary groups to operate programs more economically. Rarios for children under 18 months will be raised from three and one-third child to one staff member to four children to one staff member, resulting in a 20 THE EXPROPRIATIONS ACT Markham, Markham. Markham. designated designated designated percent saving in staff cost per child. For children from 18 months to two years the ratio will be raised from four and two-thirds children with one adult to six child- ren to one adult. admitting 30 percent more children to day care centres. The highest ratio now permitted for children be- tween two and 4 is 11 to one for half-day program. This will raised to 14 to one, a saving of almost 30 per- cent in staff cost per child. For full day programs for this age group the maximum will be increased from eight to one to 12 to one. a saving of 50 percent per child. ' The child-to-staff ratio of 22 to 1 for half-day pro- grams for five year olds will be retained. but the ratio for full day programs for this age group will go from 11 to one to 16 to one, once again, a saving of 50 per- cent in staff costs per child. For after-school programs for six to nine year olds the ratio will increase from 17 to one to 25 to one. also a 50 percent saving, permit- ting. Mrs. Birch says, admis- sion of 50 percent more children to such services. (4) (a) part of Lots 1 and 2, Registered Plan Number 1923, for the Town- ship of Vaughan, designated as PART 1 (b) part of Lots 3 and 4, Registered Plan Number 1923, for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 2 (c) part of Lot 4. Registered Plan Number 1923, for the Township of Vaughan. designated as PART 3 ((1) part of Lot 5, Registered Plan Number 1923. for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 4 (e) parts of Lot 11, Registered Plan Number 1923. for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PARTS 8, 9 and 10 _ if) part of Lots 11 and 12, Registered Plan Number 1923, for the Town- ship of Vaughan, designated as PART 11 (g) part of Lots 13 and 14, Registered Plan Number 1923, for the Town- ship of Vaughan, designated as PART 12 (h) part of Lots 14 and 15, Registered Plan Number 1923, for the Town- ship of Vaughan, designated as PART 13 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Plan P-1698-190, deposit- ed in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 Râ€"3285 (5) part of Lots 3 and 4. Registered Plan Number 1987, for the Township of Vaughan. designated as PART 2 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications‘ Plan P-1698-189. deposited in the Land Registry Off- ice for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3252 (6) part of Lots 44 and 45, Concession 1, of the Township of Vaughan and part of Block B. Registered Plan Number 3576. for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 1 on Ministry Of Transportation and Communications‘ Plan P-1698-188, recorded in the Land Registry Office for the Land Titles Division of Toronto and York as Plan 66 R-7115. This notice first published on the 24th of July, 1974. (2) la) part of Lot 9, registered Plan Number 3806. for the Township of Mark- ham. designated as PART 4 (bl part of Lot 8. Registered Plan Number 3806, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 5 ' to) part of Lot 2, Registered Plan Number 3805, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 6 1d) part of Lots 2 and 3. Registered Plan Number 3806. for the Township of Markham, designated as PART 10 (e) part of Lot 1. Registered Plan Number 3806. for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 11 ( fl part of Lot 1, Registered Plan Number 3805, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 12 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Plan P-1698-18l. deposit- 3 ed in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3138 (3) (a) part of Lot 3. Registered Plan Number 3801, for the Township of Mark- ham. designated as PART 5 1b) part of Lot 4. Registered Plan Number 3801, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 4 to) part of Lot 13. Registered Plan Number 2383, for the Township of Mark- ham, designated as PART 2 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Plan P-169&184, deposit- ed in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3133. In the Town of Richmond Hill, in the Regional Municipality of York, (form- erly in the Township of Vaughan, in the County of York), in the Province of Ontario. being (1) (a) part of Lot 123, Registered Plan Number 1984, for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 6 (b) part of Lot 4. Registered Plan Number 1984. for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 7 to) part of Lot 54. Registered Plan Number 3852. for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 11 (d) part of Lot 21, Registered Plan Number 3852, for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 13 ‘ (e) part of Lot 19, Registered Plan Number 3852, for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 14 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Plan P-1698-l79, deposit- ed in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3112 (2) (a) part of Lots 278 and 279, Registered Plan Number 1960, for the Town- ship of Vaughan. designated as PART 6 (b) part of Lot 283. Registered Plan Number 1960, for the Township of Vaughan, designated as PART 12 (c) part of Lot‘284, Registered Plan Number 1960, for the Township of Vaughan. designated as PART 13 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Plan P-1698-180, deposit- ed in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3105 (3) parts of Lot 280, Registered Plan Number 1960, for the Township of Vaughan. designated as PARTS 1. 2 and 3 on Ministry of Transporta- tion and Communications' Plan P-1698-213, deposited in the Land Reg- istry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3613 (d) part of Lots 38 and 39. Concession 1. of the Township of Markham, designated as PART 5 on Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Plan P-1698-l79, deposited in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto Boroughs and York South as Plan 64 R-3112 Ontario TRAINING COURSES POPULAR Despite the low pay rates and limited scope for ad- vancement. there has been no lack of applicants for‘ admission to early childhood education programs. In its five years experience. Seneca College has found no diffi- culty in placing its gradu- ates, and the course intro- duced last year at Seneca's King Campus is fully enrol- led. There are also a number taking partâ€"time courses. courses describes the early childhood education course: “This program is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary to plan and implement a balanced program of learning experi‘ ences which will permit the growth of creativity anc emotional health in the pre- school child; and to enable students to asume respon sibility for the pre-schoo child in a nursery school. day care centre, junior kinder- garten or special education “The response has been very good," says Paul Bril- linger, co-ordinator of con- tinuing education at King Campus. He adds. however. that the province restricts the number of students admitted so that graduates‘ are fairly well guaranteed jobs. DAY CARE AT SENECA Day care centres are in operation at both the King and Fich Campuses to pro- vide students with a practical working setting. The child- ren entrolled are those of staff or students and the centres are under supervi- xsion of course directors and qualified supervisors and staff. Seneca's calendar of Ministry of Transportation and Communications “This program is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary to plan and implement a balanced program of learning experi- ences which will permit the growth of creativity and emotional health in the pre- school child; and to enable students to asume respon- sibility for the pre-school child in a nursery school. day care centre, junior kinder- garten or special education centre.” ADVANCED COURSE Its course in personality development is for those who will be in charge of older children. Participants must ,be graduates of the early childhood education course. It stresses "Factors which determine the child's per- sonality through a concept of the continuum of deve- lopment tasks which face the child from age‘ six to maturity and through read- ing current research and relevant pamphlets." This is an evening course. Course director is Dr. Lindsay Weld, and the day care centre is supervised by Rose Tsui.