By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Child safety advocates are urging for lower teacher-child ratios in the classroom. Under the current state standard, Texas permits 2 caregivers to watch 22, 2-year-olds or 30, 3-year-olds. However, the child advocates are urging for two caregivers to watch 18, 2-year-olds, or 28, 3-year-olds.
Melanie Rubin, with the Texas Association for Mental Health, says the lower ratios are for the child’s protection. However, the state Department of Family and Protective Services are hearing the critics of the proposed change. Some say it could force the price of day care to increase and others fear that families will abandon licensed day care in favor of a baby sitter or leaving their child with an older sibling.
Having a low teacher-student ratio does have some serious consequences. For example, Shavon Ransom, a preschool teacher at the Bock Child Development Center in Oak Cliff, said she has had to work in conditions where she was the sole supervisor for 17 children – a very chaotic and challenging learning environment. Ransom claimed that in these unfortunate scenarios, in order to calm the children down she would resort to sitting them in front of the television or in the arcade. A method she does not support. If you would like to read more on this story please see Texas child safety advocates urge for higher teacher-student ratios.