Early childhood educators fed up and fleeing the job

Canada is promising 250,000 affordable childcare spots over the next four years, but with low pay and difficult working conditions, many early childhood educators are getting out of the profession. CBC’s Christine Birak visits a Toronto daycare to find out more about why the workforce is shrinking.

#ECE #Childcare #EarlyChildhoodEducation

Watch The National live on YouTube Sunday-Friday at 9 p.m. ET

Subscribe to The National:

Connect with The National online:

The National is CBC's flagship nightly news program, featuring the day's top stories with in-depth and original journalism, with hosts Adrienne Arsenault and Andrew Chang in Toronto, Ian Hanomansing in Vancouver and the CBC's chief political correspondent, Rosemary Barton in Ottawa.

[twillybbe]

I can NEVER wrap my head around why the people who are literally shaping our children’s minds and essentially helping to raise them - are not paid well and taken care of? It’s sickening that teachers and ECE’s are not paid handsomely. Smh.

[VitamanTeeJ]

As a preschool teacher its sad that I can confirm the negatives involved with this career path. We dont care to be rich, we just want to live comfortably and be respected.

[alyssawoodman]

I did ECE for 7 years...never again. The kids were wonderful but the wage and the lack of respect sent me running!

[jjspgl]

I went back to school to escape being an ECE after only 4 years. When I worked in childcare I made only $1500 per month, with no benefits or sick leave, nor did we have supply staff so we were encouraged to come to work sick. As a school board ECE teaching kindergarten I did the same amount of work as my teaching partner, worked longer hours, had more specialized training, yet only earned about one quarter of what they did, and was often disrespected or ignored by parents, admin and teachers who acted as if I was some sort of babysitter/helper. It was not worth it to earn so little that I couldn't afford a simple life for my family. The wage and disrespect towards ECE is disgusting considering how important and demanding the work is.


After only 3 years escaping ECE I am now earning 3x what I did before. It was 100% worth it to leave... but I do miss the work I did with children and families.

[aknudsen]

Early Childhood Education is the most important educational age level that exists. My background is in early childhood education and am so tired of explaining how my profession is so important.
Children learn how to use their imagination, learn through play, learn how to get along with each other and learn to use their words to express their emotions. It is so sad how early childhood education is dismissed. It is so important.

[kyranicole]

I’m an ECE. I teach pre-kindergarten. I do not make enough money to cover my own bills AND rent, so I live with my parents still. It’s really frustrating. I also have no benefits. I currently have no health insurance bc I just got booted off of my parents plan bc I’m 26 now. I’m really disgusted with how poorly ECE is treated in this country. It’s disgusting and wrong. It’s no wonder so many people are leaving the field. I am not far behind them, and it’s a shame, because I’m a damn good teacher who cares about these kids and their education, but I can’t keep living like this much longer.

[KellieAlston]

As an early childhood teacher educator, I can say that this country does not value early childhood education and does not understand how critical it is for healthy child development. The fact that centers want caregivers as they are often called, to earn college degrees for the pay is just absurd. Also, the fact that childcare and preschool education is so expensive in the USA especially for the middle-class which is not eligible for programs like Head Start, totally contradicts the fact that those who teach in the field are not valued. Why is early education so expensive when it is so necessary? Why aren't funds invested in making it affordable for everyone? Why aren't early childhood educators paid at least in the very high five figures and provided benefits? It is just sad. Too many governments fell to invest in people and programs that really make a difference.

[daynawortham]

I have been in the field of ECE for 12 years. I realized long ago that this profession is most needed and the least respected because the majority of adults do not understand neuroscience and brain development (a necessity for most quality teachers) so the toys and bright colors give off the idea that we "just play". We're at the point where we don't (and never have really) done this work for pay, recognition, or respect. We are investing in our future society. These children that recieve care from dedicated loving people may have had a turning point in their lives because they attended a quality center. These children will be our future teachers, judges, lawmakers, doctors, etc. In this day and age, it just makes sense to invest in children, as we are seeing the consequences of misguided policies that defund education for the neediest populations.

[joyfuljess]

Thank you for choosing to cover this story! Unfortunately, I also have to agree with many of the comments made by the educators in the video. I am an ECE in BC with her undergrad in Psychology and the number of times I get told that I am simply "just a babysitter" is frustrating. I love teaching and shaping these precious young minds, but have strongly considered leaving the field after only a year or so. For me it isn't just about the pay or recognition, it is the lack of support from parents and the lack of parenting/guidance taking place in the home. It is very evident which children "rule the roost" at home versus the ones who are given positive guidance at home. It is also frustrating that parents can refuse to acknowledge that we will often see behaviors that they do not, given we often spend more of the child's awake time with them than their parents. Being an Early Childhood Educator isn't a job for the faint of heart nor is it a job for someone to make a living off of, but it is a calling .

[pamelamays]

Being an ECE left me in virtual poverty.
Some self entitled parents see ECE's as their personal nannies.
I saw neglect and abuse of young children at the hands of teachers.

[jessd]

ECE is not an easy job, I’ve worked in the field for 4 years now, and genuinely love working with the children and being able to watch them grow and learn. It is really an under paid, under appreciated job. It’s wild to me that childcare providers, who put so much time and energy into working with their children (especially through a pandemic), get paid so little, especially when the cost of childcare is SO expensive. I have a BA and am working on a CDA and barely make above minimum wage. No one stays bc no one can afford to stay.

[sentb]

You are ABSOLUTELY so much more than a babysitter. Often the classroom setting are the most stable hours in many children’s day.

[sandrad.]

I also want to add that toxic work environments (lack of support from management, nepotism, rewarding staff despite of inappropriate treatment of fellow coworkers, not being paid for mandatory meetings/events)
are an additional factor in causing people to leave…

[sughraaunali]

I am an ECE diploma working 12 years.. I am almost near to disability. Dislocated shoulder and planters faciatis due to constant standing and physical demand. Lifting kids, diaper change, getting them ready for outside, cleaning bathrooms, and cleaning rooms during and after work.
The only people benefit from the job are the owners of the day care.
They treat us like shits. Not even give us pee breaks, due to the ratio issues. No benefits. No sick days, and the threat that 100s of new immigrants are ready to get out spot, if we can't work.
The love of children is what make us do this job

[followerofjesus]

I agree!! I am an ECE with a certification of level 2 and we def. Don’t get paid enough. Our job isn’t just watching children. We teach children, help them grow, love them, educate them, and prepare them for the next stages of life. We are teachers for young children.

[rebeccalowe-hodges]

as an ECE teacher. I love these people. It is a pure labor of love. We, as teachers are planting seeds of knowledge at the earliest level.

[marshae.theteacher]

They’re with us more than they’re with their parents. While they’re in our care, we have to tend to them as if we’re their parents. We feed them, clothe them, care for their injuries, nurture their minds. But we don’t get paid well enough to be able to do the same for ourselves. Not to mention the amount of training, certificates, and degrees we have to obtain to even be paid $12/hr. It’s literally an abusive relationship. Loving the job, being passionate about teaching those babies, but being abused by administration, and not being fairly compensated. It’s insanity.

[yenairaroman]

I just wanted to give all the Teachers and ECE's out there A BIG SHOUT OUT! THANK YOU. Thank you for teaching my kids, thank you for being kind and sweet to my kids and for being there when I can't throughout the day! You guys are the best ! I appreciate u!

[gilliantohver]

Caring for children properly is expensive; it should be. You can't have good care without paying properly for it.

Do you want to go to a surgeon who is poorly paid, exhausted, and frustrated? Why would you be okay sending kids to underpaid, exhausted, and underappreciated educators and caregivers?

Money is, at its core, a note of appreciation for someone's work and the degree of appreciation you have for that work.

[junglejulia]

It's heart breaking. Let's make a collective effort to protect these essential workers. Our children development depends on them