For this company's business model, it does cost quite a lot. Did you know that they were the first people to pay benefits to childcare workers in the state? I get the impression they tend to be on the cutting edge, thus the expense.

It depends completely on what is included that makes it quality (and also what your mortgage costs!) The way the state defines quality does cost a lot to achieve, but I agree there are many ways to take great care of kids that are less expensive.

I watched the first meeting.

Some salient points:

The center in question has been operating at a deficit for years. The tuition raise is to bring them into the black and also raise quality to match that of the other local centers owned by the same company.

There was a lot of talk about how difficult staffing is. Raises for staff have varied from 15-28% and represent a significant increase in cost of care over the last few years.

Parents accused the company of lying about their losses, because they wouldn't share the specific numbers. (I'm not sure what business makes their specific financials public knowledge, so I'm not sure where parents got the expectation that it was reasonable to request that)

Parents requested that the center not improve quality of care. Expressed that they didn't think routine building/facility maintenance was necessary.

Parents are upset that more training days for staff means they are moving to a care schedule more in line with the public schools.

In this case, the center is trying to improve quality and parents are upset about the cost.

It’s a catch-22. Everyone wants quality care, but no one wants to pay for it. As a corporate center, they are either going to be lambasted for not being high enough quality or accused of being greedy for charging what it costs to provide quality.

Public schools have specifically failed at allowing every child to advance at their own level with no restrictions. It caters to the kids in the middle, with enormous amounts of resources thrown at kids on the bottom. The struggle to work with groups of kids with such varying needs is a specific complaint of teachers.

We pretend that public schools have standards they are required to meet, but with 1/5 of Americans being functionally illiterate, I think we need to accept that no real standards exist or are adhered to.

Everything is in demand. Do whatever you have the most passion for/can be the best at.

Have you considered ordering a new pair from zenni? It would almost certainly be cheaper than getting new lenses.

The best way to contribute to the local economy is to work a local job. With that off the table, consider volunteering in the community. There’s plenty that needs doing.

Look for a remote area that has fiber internet. That should suit your needs. Also, there are plenty of rural places that have homes badly in need of repairs. Towns that have been largely neglected as vacation spots and tourist destinations. If you can do any home fixing yourself, that’s awesome. The contractors are flat out.

Yes, which is why I understand how these things took place and can have sympathy for the woman.

Being under the influence does not absolve a person of criminal behavior, though, however tragic the situation is. She is extremely lucky that help arrived and her baby was resuscitated, because she could have been responsible for so much worse.

Where does it say she couldn’t go to a hospital? Sounds like she chose not to due to her mental illness and substance abuse.

The article does say she left the baby alone and uncovered in the tent. Did someone make her do that? Was she prevented by society from holding or wrapping her child in her coat?

We specifically have laws that allow people to abandon their children in safe places. No one is forced to be a parent, but you definitely can’t let a child in your care die of neglect.

Many people commit crimes for understandable reasons, but that doesn’t reduce the criminality.

A woman should be able to give birth wherever she wants, but if she leaves the baby to freeze to death that’s a big problem.

Yes, that’s why I think schools should be prioritizing roles that work with children. I think it’s pretty clear that they hire plenty of people, they just aren’t using them effectively.

The Vermont public school system employs 1 staffer for every 2.2 students. I’m not sure that schools lack staffing so much as they are not prioritizing hires towards directly working with students.

If she is used to making friends at child-centered events, she might like community events for adults. Are here any libraries near you that have book clubs? A lot of towns have committees that are desperate for volunteers, too. If she has any interest in being civically involved, it’s a great way to meet and get to know some new people.