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From: lab@qubix.UUCP (Q-Bick)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.politics,net.kids,net.social
Subject: Re: Kids suffer in Shangri La
Message-ID: <1094@qubix.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-May-84 21:23:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: qubix.1094
Posted: Fri May 11 21:23:48 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 13-May-84 07:24:52 EDT
References: <1027@qubix.UUCP> <2234@hplabsb.UUCP>, <1051@qubix.UUCP> <2248@hplabsb.UUCP>
Organization: Qubix Graphic Systems, Saratoga, CA
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Besides the open letter she wrote here, Patricia Collins wrote another
letter to the San Jose newspaper on the subject of day-care. I will take
the liberty (without permission) of quoting the last two paragraphs:

	Parents in the Santa Clara Valley are fortunate to have a wide
	selection of child-care options, with child-care philosophies
	which follow those of the parents.

	Unfortunately, not all care facilities (in private homes or in
	centers) are as responsive and responsible as they should be. A
	parent's active participation in the facility (through regular
	parent meetings or cooperative aiding) can guarantee that the
	child is being well cared for.

It is good to be able to have "child-care philosophies which follow
those of the parents." However, many such centers are supported by
quasi-public funds (e.g., United Way), and thus are limited in the
"philosophies" they can have. (Even care-providers in a *home* have been
harassed by social workers for even having a Bible near the children.)
And if the mother *has* to work, the family is less able to select the
child-care philosophy they might desire. With the child at home, there
is little question about the philosophy.

A key word in Collins' last paragraph is "active." Oh, that more parents
would *actively* participate in raising their children - both mothers
AND fathers. And this just isn't in the pre-school years either - check
out the kids skipping school at the mall or elsewhere; most of them
will tell you "My parents don't care." Shangri-La strikes again.

Collins: "Life seems to be a process of taking into consideration all of
	the pros and cons of one's decisions, then in the best of
	circumstances making decisions which maximize the Quality of Life."

There may be some disagreement in the weight of each consideration, but
let us not overlook the disagreement on what constitutes "Quality of
Life." Neither overlook: there's more than one Life to consider.
-- 
			The Ice Floe of Larry Bickford
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