Does America want Moms to stay at home?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2005
Does America want Moms to stay at home?
987
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 11:28am
It was actually dh that suggested that America (gov't I suppose) wants Moms to stay at home. From what I have learned from these boards daycare is hideously expensive and maternity leave is very short. Many have said they couldn't afford to work because of daycare costs. Compare this to Canada where we have $7 a day daycare and Quebec is increasing maternity leave to 2 years at 55% pay or 1 year at 75% pay in January. With the $7 a day daycare Moms can easily afford to work, and with the paid maternity leave Moms can easily afford to stay home. It seems that in the states you're 'forced' into situations because it's your only option. Can't afford daycare? Stay at home. Maternity leave too short or have to work to support the family? Go back to work. Would any of you prefer if it would be easier financially to make either decision like it seems to be in Canada or are you fine with how it is?

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com


Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 10:36pm

B/c no one would work for them, that's why.

You have to pay your employees enough to have employees in the first place--that's a basic rule of business.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 10:44pm

Because no one would work for 1 cent an hour. No one.

Meldi
Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 11:59pm

No PNJ I don't. In fact I think it should be way up the list. Getting a good start for parents and infants is important. Sending a message that there is value in spending time with your newborn; and a company supporting women who have children; is important.
Its way up there IMO.

Again, clearly your view varies but I think you are flat wrong on this one. And I'm a devout capitalist.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2001
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 1:00am

That's somewhat simplistic and ignores other factors.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2001
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 1:09am

That's where the "market" comes in.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 1:16am
Except that the minimum wage doesn't apply to farm workers, so your example really isn't at all applicable.

Karen


"IHere are some juicier bits from the

Karen

"Veronica: "I hate fake deer too. Every time I see their stupid fake-deer faces I want to grab a shotgun and go all Cheney on 'em." Sure, but since fake deer don't talk, they won't

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 6:48am

45-50 hours a week is standard where I am but I'm sure by the time teachers write lesson plans, grade papers, coordinate events, and such, they've put in as much. Personally, I work my 40 and go home. Rarely do I have to work more. That's because my company pays overtime and they don't like paying overtime. I'm sure that will change with the market getting tighter but I'm enjoying it for now.

You state that jobs pay on difficulty but then mention how hard it is to teach hungry, tired children with uninvolved parents. I think that would be a tough job but I do agree that policemen and firemen have more on the line. Then again, I hear some high schools have had to resort to metal detectors to keep weapons out.

Here teachers can make upwards of $75K too after years of experience. Fortunately, that has encouraged some good ones to stay in the field. Unfortunately, the tenure system has resulted in some who aren't worth half that also staying in the field. That's one thing they need to get rid of.

There are some areas of the country where teaching doesn't pay enough to attract qualified people and that is sad but then again so is people choosing the profession because they get the summers off. I've met too many of those.

As to the uninvolved parents, the purpose of public education is to educate the public's children. That's the teachers job not the parents job. You have to assume the parents are uninvolved and be thankful for the ones who are involved not expecting the parents to be involved and bellyaching about the ones who are not.

If parents were qualified and able to teach their own children, we wouldn't need public schools. We have public schools because parents aren't always capable of doing the job. I hate this argument. It's like me bellyaching that my customers don't help with the testing they pay me to do. I don't expect them to but I am thankful when some choose to help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 6:50am
I could go for that. No deductions, flat tax on wages, no need for the IRS other than to make sure employers are sending in the money. I can do that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 7:01am

Well, *why* do you think that the gov (in the pocket of big business) is not doing anything extreme about the border situation? Because our economy NEEDS workers who can (illegally)

Meldi
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 7:54am

<>

Meldi, you know I love a debate, but not that way.

Pages