1990-1991 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
What, If Any Should Government's Role Be Regarding Child Care In The United States?
Choctaw County High School, Butler, Alabama
1st Dinah
Hollister
2nd
Keyuna Seals 
3rd Leslie
Vines
We are not able to identify the excerpts below with a specific student. In the early years the Foundation made an effort to protect the privacy of participants. Only later did we discover that students would rather be recognized for their opinions and research.
"A recent survey indicates that 88 percent of mothers would prefer to
stay at home with their children, instead of being out working."
unidentified student
". . .the children of today are tomorrow's leaders. Wouldn't it be
nice if they are honest, upright citizens with high religious values? Then why does the
government want to deprive and weaken its future by prohibiting religious values and
morals to be taught or practiced in daycare programs? Why would the federal legislature
open with a prayer yet prohibit preschoolers from praying over lunch?"
unidentified student
"But I can't see how anyone could like the idea that the government
wants to control how someone brings up their children. If the rest of the world wants to
be controlled, then that's fine, but not me! I'm raising my kids the way I want to and not
how the government says to."
unidentified student
"America is a nation of free-enterprise, wanting as little government
interference as possible. The scales of the government not interfering outweighs the scale
of government interference."
unidentified student
". . .parental care of small children in the home is preferred, and
many families do sacrifice the benefit of a second income so that they may do so. The
child care policy should take into consideration the needs of all parents, not just those
who do choose to work and rely on others to care for their children."
unidentified student
"It is true that many single parents and second parents are becoming employed but
the 'nuclear family' is not becoming obsolete. Many single parents and usual stay-at-home
mothers are taking jobs that are not full time and are still in charge of their children
during most hours of the day"
unidentified student
"The government should also give us day-care centers to give unemployed people a
chance to work. Many parents stay home in poverty because they have no place for their
children to stay. if we were to have public day-care centers, the unemployed parent might
get a chance to get a job."
unidentified student
"The government has an obligation to the children in its country. If the United
States does not take care of the children, who will?"
unidentified student
The government's role in the world today is to meet the needs of these families."
unidentified student
"It is the government's responsibility to look out for the people."
unidentified student