An extremely typical and traditional job in America is babysitting. I myself have babysat for countless families since I was about twelve years old. Who would have thought that such a common practice could be illegal?
According to an article at CNN, a woman in Michigan is being fined, and may possibly face jail time, for watching her neighbor's children on a daily basis. Michigan's Department of Human Services claims that it is illegal for this woman to allow her neighbor's children to stay at her house because she is not registered as a day care business. Many families can no longer afford to pay a day care to watch their children, and leaving them with a friend is a lot more economical.
What do you think? Is the Department of Human Services going overboard or should this practice be limited? Letting friends and babysitters watch afer children is such a common practice in American society; it is possible to do away with it?
I think that this is absolutely preposterous. If someone wants to leave his/her child with a trustworthy friend or neighbor, he/she should definitely have the right to do so. Especially with our economic crisis, it is hard to actually pay for a babysitter or day care service. Why on earth should this woman be fined (and possibly imprisoned) for doing such a good deed? I myself sometimes babysit, and if this ever happened to me, I would be infuriated.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's ridiculous, but I think there's an easy solution. Maybe the Department of Human Services should require that you are certified to be a baby-sitter by the Red Cross. Park Districts/Recreational Centers often hold workshop days where you learn how to change a diaper, etc. and can be taught all you need to know in a matter of hours! Sounds simple enough and safe enough to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick and Sarah. The babysitter should not be considered at fault in this situation. If anyone, I think the parents should be. They decide who babysits for their children. They can ask their babysitter if he/she has been certified, but if they choose to hire a babysitter without certification, why should the babysitter be punished. I also think that it is unfair for this woman to be jailed because she is clearly not the only person that babysits without certification. I have never heard of this issue before. If the Department of Human Services cannot fine or jail every person that illegally babysits, should they be able to fine any?
ReplyDeleteMadelaine,
ReplyDeleteNice job on the blog this term. This post, in particular, is very interesting. It'd be nice to see you take it a little farther by quoting the article rather than merely linking to it. Also, you could provide more specific information rather than settling for terms like "many families." Still, overall, good job!