An Opportunity to Build a Broad-Based Coalition
I work statewide in workforce development for early care and education workers. I am also part of statewide conversations about engaging parents and the workforce in determining state-level policy on COVID-19, reopening schools, childcare, and so on.
The health crisis caused by COVID-19 and the ensuing economic crisis have put parents and teachers into horrible, unworkable, impossible situations! And, of course, these crises have shed a bright light on the connection between childcare, early care, and education and the ability of the economy to function (in other words, for parents to be able to go to work).
The childcare crisis has been brewing in the United States for decades. It is now widespread and impossible to ignore. In terms of COVID-19, roughly twenty-five percent of programs in California have shut their doors, and many older workers have said they won’t be coming back to work, no matter what, because of the health threats they would face. In terms of the economic crisis, states are having to confront the outrageously low wages earned by early care and education workers, particularly as they’re now recognized as essential workers without whom the economy simply cannot function.
We need to hold out the notion of parents and teachers as natural allies and the need to think beyond the current moment. The current mess may give us an opportunity to build a broad-based coalition of parents, teachers, caregivers, labor, employers, and government entities—a coalition that could work together to call out and address the underlying oppressive forces and the need for policies that honor and support parents, children, and the workers who teach and care for them.
Oakland, California, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of parents
(Present Time 202, January 2021)