Barsade, PONPO, CNG 24, 3/01 high, commonly quoted as one of the highest in the country. Positions in the public school are hard to come by, but many local childcare providers hold state teacher certification and hope to work for the public schools. ABC teachers earn among the highest child care salaries in Central Massachusetts, but only half the salary of a local public school teacher. Most teachers felt somewhat trapped: fortunate among their caregiver peers both locally and nationally, but unable to gain a better position in their choson field. Sheryl Davis has a bachelor's degree in education, several years of additional early childhood training, and is a certified public school teacher in the state of Massachusetts. Across the hall, Wendy Miller has some early childhood teachers' training, and had been teaching in the "ones" classroom for just over a year. For Wendy, teaching is an opportunity to do something worthwhile, although she knows she can only choose a career with this low level pay because her salary contributes to a dual income family. "The children themselves are the greatest reward," she, and the other teachers at the center, often remarked. Sheryl also treasured the opportunity to work with children, and especially valued the occasional continuing child-education training she could access as an employee of the YMCB. As a single mother. however, her joy in teaching is giving way to financial struggles. She knows in her heart how much she gives to each child in her class, and how much she gets from simply watching them grow. But Sheryl often feels like only the other teachers truly understand how hard the day can be, constantly focusing your attention upon, and educating, several active toddlers. She never feels she is understood or valued by Elizabeth or Sheila, and in fact, often regrets the relatively limited respect she senses from society as a whole for her profession. "I cherish this opportunity to be with the children, and I know I have a lot to offer them. But sooner or later I know I'll have to leave childcare because I simply can't make it on this paycheck." says Sheryl. Another teacher, Elizabeth, who worked in the "2's" room was also concerned about the relatively low salary "I went into the field because I love the children and the work, but the low salary bothers me because I feel it is a sign that the work I do is not valued." Salary Freeze Shortly after the arduous move, teachers learned that the Board of Directors had imposed a salary freeze on all YMCB employees. Effective immediately, neither ABC teachers nor administrators would receive any cost of living or merit-based raises. Elizabeth, together with all department supervisors, argued for at least a small cost of living raise, fearing that a complete freeze would be disastrous for morale. In confidence, the YMCB administration explained to Elizabeth and other supervisors that the move was significantly costlier than had been anticipated; extreme belt tightening was necessary to stabilize the center as a whole. Elizabeth had heard it before. Nonprofits were always tightening their belts. Before the
