NPR Ed – Anya Kamenetz
“New York state recently announced an increase in the minimum wage for fast food workers, to $15 an hour. It’s the fruit of a three-year labor campaign. But there’s another group of workers out there that hasn’t had a real wage increase in decades. Right now, at preschool programs around the country, teachers are tapping infinite reserves of patience to keep the peace among children at various stages of development and need. They’re also providing meals, wiping noses and delivering a curriculum in math and reading that will get the kids ready for school. And there are hugs. Lots of hugs. A working parent like me would say these services are priceless. But according to a study from the University of California, Berkeley, the economy values them between $8.63 and $20.99 per hour.”(more)