Please, if you have a child in daycare or know anyone who does, pass this on. The following link takes you to excerpts from last nights "Dateline" with Chris Hansen-you will be stunned to watch!
http://www.bing.com/videos/browse/source?tag=msnbc%3Adate...
If you had the opportunity to watch the entire story, you would have learned that only 11 states screen daycare operators and their employees, there are 24 convicted child molesters working in daycare centers throughout the U.S., many states will take a convicted felon and allow them to plea to a lesser offense, and , therefore, be eligible to work as a daycare provider. The intent of the post was to make people aware that the state may be using your child to test whether or not their daycare provider has been rehabilitated-would not want that for anyone's child. One daycare owner was convicted of killing her husband! All I am doing is encouraging parents to attempt to find out who is watching their children-nothing more, nothing less.
So the motivation was to provide a sensational story for viewers-not to protect children? Whatever.
Yes I watched that and it was quite an eye-opener. Its frightening that these precious kids are in their care day after day. The story about that little 2 yr old boy that died , ugh, just made me want to cry. :'(
While I understand the concerns and this was an interesting showing of the problems with background checks and such, this was still sensationalist reporting at its finest. They found THE crappiest places to profile. Why didn't they try to walk into a local suburban Kinder care or home daycare and find out how they operate?
I take it with a grain of salt.
TV, and all people involved in TV, make money on ratings, not accuracy of information. I don't need to watch this show or any show to know that more sensational equals more profit. Do not look to anything on TV for anything based on data.
It is horiffying. I was under the impression that all daycare workers in all states had to background checked and fingerprinted. The sad truth is though a background check only takes you so far. Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy and many other serial killers and child predators would pass a background check. They are so good at flying under the radar and not getting caught--many do not even have so much as a parking ticket. Their records are squeeky clean. Look at the Penn State mess as an example.
This story does seem over-sensationalized, however I would hope that the motivation was to create stricter standards and requirements for daycare providers.
Where I live, you have to pass a criminal background check without exemption to operate a licensed daycare. Unfortunately though, that's about as strict as it gets. Due to state budget cuts, there aren't nearly enough people to do the unannounced visits that they are supposed to do. If someone complains though, the licensing agency is out the next day and they go through everything. And if that happens you're required to post something in a prominent place that says that they came out and why.
There are bad people everywhere, in every profession. I don't live my life in a bubble because of an episode on Dateline. All those shows and Fox news do is promote fear in people. There are lots of good people doing daycare, and a good daycare can be a really great environment and experience for kids. Parents have to do their work, know their kids and be attentive. There are warning signs of bad center and poor care.
Haven't watched your link, but know there are bad spots out there! I think my dgd was in one - you don't know how many times I walked out of there w/her w/o being checked ID and not signing her out (gave up trying to keep track of where they put the stupid sheet each day). Then one day, something happened and the state abruptly CLOSED them! I found out that I could get those records - and did - and was quite surprised! Been down for violations many times (including no background checks)! They'd just change the name and reopen! OMG!!! Obviously child's parents didn't care - just so they could drop at whim (why not, state paid not them).... GRRRRR!!!
Anyway - they owe state now on that - and that stupid place is still open - under another new name!
ps - it is scary that you walk in there to pick up your "own" and you have all these little kids clinging to your legs (and you are a total stranger to them) - all wanting to leave with you! OMG!!!
He was on the Today Show Friday promotion this. I forgot to watch last night. I don't have kids in daycare, but it still looked interesting.
Oh my GOSH! How horrible! I must of missed this one! I always watch Dateline. Alot of moms here run home daycares, and I know how strict the state of Illinois is. But this is just sad! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this. I am fortunate to have never used a daycare. This is so scary.
I watched the beginning until it was too disturbing, even though my son isn't in daycare. That FL state spokeslady drove me nuts rationalizing how people with misdemeanors and felonies are fine to watch small children! I'm sorry, our children are too precious to THINK someone is rehabilitated! If there is a legal record of you harming another person, then you shouldn't be allowed to work with minor children or elderly or other vulnerable populations. Every state needs to set the standards high for licensing daycares! I'd rather have a young teen girl who isn't as experienced but won't hurt my child than an experienced teacher who loses their temper and hurts my child. I feel terrible for families that have no choice but to use daycares that could be below standards because it's all they can afford. What a terrible position to be in.
