The mother, kept out of work for a week by the punishment, wanted to know how to discipline her daughter so the girl would not be suspended again. With better training, staff at that center would have known toddlers are too young to control impulses and shouldn't face severe punishment for such an incident. But states that earned Working Mother's top rankings require training to start, often college credits. Hawaii, one of those top-ranked states, requires two years of college and a certificate in early childhood education. However, officials there say they're going back to the drawing board because of teacher shortages.
Early results look promising, advocates say.
North Carolina's efforts have won national praise. But some experts say North Carolina, like Hawaii, can expect only a limited amount of education for the wages it offers. Competing with McDonald's Some workers decide that if they go to school, they're going to shift to a field where they can earn a better living. Many who stay in are motivated by more than money. Sharon Attenburg took a pay cut to enter child care after working as a nurse's assistant, a seamstress and a substitute teacher.