To the Editor,
Re: Daycare must develop our children, Reporter’s Viewpoint, Jan. 24.
In accusing families of being negligent and/or incompetent in raising their children, reporter Jenn McGarrigle’s championing of state daycare is both misguided and offensive.
As always, proponents of statism use the ‘lowest common denominator’ to push for more government intervention.
Because a small number of parents are neglectful, all children must be cared for by the state. Or because two parents choose to work to afford a larger home, a boat or better vacations, all taxpayers should subsidize their choice.
McGarrigle uses research from academics that are themselves products of the state and who, having never left the state’s warm bosom, have a vested interest in perpetuating and expanding state intervention.
How is it then that over the course of 30 years, despite giving the state ever-increasing responsibility for the development of our children and irrespective of the fact that we spend an always increasing portion of GDP on education, fully 40 per cent of Canadian adults remain functionally illiterate at a Level 2 or lower (meaning that while they can read and write to a degree, they cannot always understand instructions)?
I would argue that the problem lies in too much dependence on the state.
As a society we not only allow, but encourage parents to abrogate their responsibility to prepare their children for their role in Canadian society. PS3s, iPads and state daycare are not a rational substitute for real parenting.
Randy O’Donnell
Nanaimo