Recently I came across a post detailing one mom’s “epic rant” about school half-days. According to an article in Scarry Mommy, this woman speaks to what “we are all thinking.” The ranting mom, TikToker Jen Lottier, complains that half days are super stressful for her because she can’t get “$h** done” at home before she has to turn around and pick up her “little a$$holes” at school again. Honestly, it’s a lot to unpack (to use an educational buzzword). However, one of the most disturbing things about the post is Lottier’s assumption that it is the job of educators to provide her with childcare. Not only does she come across as privileged and a little unhinged, but she also seems to have no idea what school is for.

While it is difficult to sympathize with this particular mom’s struggles – after all, she admits to spending over an hour at home just “chasing her tail”– it’s easy to understand why many parents have come to rely on their child’s school to provide childcare during working hours. However, no matter how commonplace this way of thinking has become, holding schools responsible for kids so that parents can work isn’t reasonable, and it isn’t in anyone’s best interest. Yet, because schools have become the go-to childcare option for working parents, many families become frustrated when school isn’t open or even when they don’t provide after-care options.

What’s wrong with this mindset?

1. Schools are for educating, not babysitting.

One problem with this mindset is that it devalues education. Schools are not childcare centers, and teachers are not babysitters. Rather, the primary job of schools is to educate children. Given the varied academic and emotional needs of children, increasing problems with behavior issues, ever-increasing state and federally mandated boxes to check, it is a monumental task. Yet, it is of paramount importance to our nation’s future. Even in the best circumstances, educating the next generation is a tremendous undertaking. So, why do people assume that schools have the time or the resources to also take on after-school programs?

Of course, it isn’t only after-care that is an issue. Often parents complain when schools close for professional development, planning, or teacher meetings. Teachers aren’t unsympathetic to the problems this presents for parents because many of us are parents too. When school is not in session because of teacher training, we also have to find childcare. But no one complains if their pediatrician or their accountant is out of the office for continuing education. Just as other professionals sometimes have to suspend their hours to maintain or improve their jobs, teachers also need time for planning and training. And as people with lives and families of our own, we can’t be expected to do all of that in the evenings or on weekends and certainly not outside of contracted hours.

A society that truly values education would recognize the importance of giving educators the time and resources they need to provide quality education for our kids. 

2. Schools should not be expected to make up for a childcare crisis they did not cause.

Not only is the childcare crisis an indication that our society undervalues education, it’s also clear that we undervalue children and families. Why are we content to task an already over-taxed education system with providing childcare instead of looking for better options? Why are schools the default solution? And why don’t we look to major corporations who employ parents? Do we value the service of the financial, manufacturing, or retail sectors more than the education system?

Why aren’t companies expected to offer more flexibility for working parents? Why doesn’t the government offer tax credits to companies that set up childcare facilities onsite or better yet, offsite where they can serve the whole community? And why isn’t there more public funding available for daytime and aftercare programs provided by churches and community organizations?

In a society that prioritized children and education, families would never have to scramble to find after-school care or to find childcare on the days when schools are closed for teacher training or weather. These considerations would be built into a society that really cared about kids. Instead we live in a country where underpaid educators are often seen as glorified babysitters and childcare is a national crisis.

So what’s the answer? How can we ensure that families always have access to adequate childcare so that parents can work? There are no easy solutions, but if we also want to ensure that children get the best education possible, we can start by not expecting educators to answer that question.

PSA: Schools are NOT Childcare Centers