Child care deserves praise

Editor,

Something wonderful happened on our campus on April 12. No, not the tuition hike or the display of unity that was the protest of the tuition raise.

The wonderful thing that happened on our campus that no one saw was the groundbreaking ceremony for the Child Care Campus that is coming to our University. This is a wonderful thing for many reasons. It has been in the making for more than 20 years, and, finally, money has been appropriated, plans have been drawn up and the ball is rolling. Construction will begin, hopefully, by the fall.

Another reason this event is wonderful and should have received more coverage is because the two child care centers on campus, UNM Child Care Center and Manzanita Child Care Center, provide many services to the University and the surrounding community members. Affordable, quality child care is provided for students who may not otherwise be able to get their education. Research is done by many departments on campus at the child care facilities and the staff who care for our children are of the highest quality I have ever known.

Part of the tuition increase is designated for pay raises for staff and faculty of this University, and the teachers at UNM and Manzanita child care centers deserve a living wage. A speaker at the ceremony pointed out that people who wash cars make more money per year than early childhood educators do. This is a sad commentary on our priorities as a society.

I know that the education and development of my children are worth more than any car, and the love and support my children have received on this campus are priceless. A mere 8.3 percent cannot even begin to repay the service done for my family. A larger child care center means more children can be cared for, which would increase our retention rates as many people drop out of college if they get pregnant.

Providing a young family with a safe, loving place for their children to grow up while mom and dad get their education so that, in turn, they can provide the best for their children benefits everyone and no price tag can be placed on that.

I saw people from the Daily Lobo at the ceremony. I implore you to publish the stories and photos you have. The Child Care center is an active and productive member of our community. Let’s give them the respect and the attention they deserve.

Jessica Coulson

Graduate student

Editor’s note: The Daily Lobo did run a feature photo of the groundbreaking ceremonies on April 11 and ran a preview story on the project to construct a new building for UNM Child Care Center on April 10.