"Why not include day care into our public school system? Some experts believe that our nation's educational level would increase if the government would involve itself in the education process at its roots--child care." IL

"Children could also be left at schools under the supervision of teachers and faculty. Besides being safe, children could receive help on studies and improve their fitness." KS

"The policy I prefer the most is the one proposed by Dr. Zigler where schools would take care of most of the day care. Schools in America are $1 trillion dollar investment and the people could use them much more efficiently. With the children at a school, they would receive better regulated care in an educational environment. Parents would also be more involved in their child's education. The program ;would be paid for first by the parents on a sliding scale and then the cost would be absorbed through property taxes. I believe this proposal is the best because it does not put a financial strain on the federal government."

"Another step taken was by the school system in Independence, Mo. Since September, the elementary schools stay open 12 hours a day, year-round to take care of latch-key children." NY

"Los Angeles' BEST program (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow) is an after-school educational program to keep kids off the streets. . .Free supervised care is currently offered after each school day in every L.A. elementary school. Other leading child care cities offering similar programs include: Irvine, Minneapolis, Seattle, Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Fort Worth, Honolulu, Houston, Independence, Miami, Sacramento and Washington, DC." OH

"Parents could leave their children at school when they leave for work and pick them up on their way home. Most schools would only require teachers and other faculty to remain for two to three extra hours. While still at school these children can receive help on their studies to further advance their education. The students would be able to not only increase their knowledge, but they could become physically in shape as well. Students could also use the physical education equipment to entertain themselves as well as increasing their physical strength and endurance." KS

"Some schools provide activities for children after school. This should be spread! I know when I was a child, I loved being a part of a group or an organization. Programs in the communities need to be encouraged. In the larger towns, classes could be offered. We need to be pulled together." TX

"Other options are available other than government funded day care services. Other community organizations could be able to provide child care for families within the community. Schools are well equipped to begin and manage child care at little or no cost to families needing the care. Within the Garnet Valley School district, the Latch Key Program was created. Children with parents who work during the day are offered day care. Toys and supplies are donated to the program and volunteers are sought to help take care of the children. Programs like this within every community help ease the pressure on working and single parents. Other community organizations such as churches provide similar services." PA

"To help its working families, the city of San Diego hired a child care coordinator so 63,000 latch key kids won't be neglected. . .Los Angeles approved $4.5 million for after school care." OK

"Schools nationwide should consider the opportunity to have a child day-care center in their high school. It would be a good learning experience not only for the students helping the kids, but also the kids who are attending the day care."OR

One Student Urged Consideration Of Hospital Sites For Childcare . . .

"Another possibility the government could consider is to place a child care center in a hospital where the children can get food, laundry and housekeeping services. Also they are provided with medical care, and they are opened twenty-four hours a day. With the government's help each community can receive a child care center in a hospital which will be more convenient and trustworthy. Hospital day-care should set a rate which is in line with local income and be offered to anyone."PA

Many Students Suggested Having Children And The Elderly Help One Another . . .

"One valid solution is to allow grandparents or elders to care for younger children. Not only do many baby-boomers have to care for their young children, but the responsiblity of their elderly parent has also fallen on their shoulders. And they must accomplish both of these tasks while holding down full-time jobs. The modern paradox exists: grandparents are living longer but grandchildren are less likely to really know their elders. There are numerous advantages to letting elders take care of children who are not yet old enough to attend school." CA

"In Santa Cruz, California, senior citizens have been volunteering their time in the afternoons to look after the young people of the community. If the government provided some kind of tax break or payment for their service, more people may take advantage of this kind of program. Both the young and old alike benefit emensely from this arrangement. The children learn about life in the past and gain some of the wisdom that the elderly people possess. In turn, the older people receive the enlightenment of a young life. I have personally seen how much senior citizens appreciate the company of youngsters from my visitations to a local retirement home. This blend of youth and age allows both parties to thrive in an environment of need and love."OR

"Many children need good role models and family type atmospheres that may not be available at home. I recently read an article about the elderly helping in daycare centers. This is a good way to promote respect and also a family type setting. Children who may not have grandparents or live to far away too see them are able to experience what it is like to have a grandma and grandpa around." OH

". . .the elderly and children get along very well. . .The elderly and the children will not only keep each other company but also produce love and affection that will fill both of their lives." VA

"A fairly recent idea for day care is for senior citizens to watch a few children in their homes, usually in a room converted for that purpose. Adults who find themselves bored after retirement and have the interest often find it an enjoyable way to earn some extra income." IL

"Yet another option . . .is combining child care with care for elderly parents. More than one third of the American work force participates in this system of care. . .This program is aimed at stimulating contact between young and old at a time when social patterns tend to separate them. The government is now funding for combined young and old day care centers, but more and more these centers are becoming privately owned and popular." IA

"Clearly our nation is well off enough to invest more in our young children. In two decades we have eliminated the excessive poverty rate among the nation's elderly. Now we must respond to the largest demographic shift in our generation, which is the vast, worldwide increase in maternal labor force participation. The way to this is by the widespread provision of good early childhood programs."OR

"Between 1978 and 1987 spending on programs for the elderly rose 52%; spending on children dropped 4%. As a result, the lives of the elderly improved and the lives of thousands of children worsened. I'm glad senior citizens lives are getting better. Now, I think this nation can do the same for its children." WI

"After all, the federal government spends $350 billion on senior citizens compared to $6.9 billion on child care. While seniors are deserving of quality care, we are relaying the message that children, the future of the world, are not worthy of as much focus as their elders." CA

"Another creative program involves mixing the young and old together. Psychologists point out that old people and youngsters have much to offer each other."OR

"To solve the problem where parents have to take care of both the grandparents and the children, parents keep the children and grandparents together to look after each other. This benefits both the children and also the elderly people. The grandparents get a sense of not being as lonely as they would be if they were in an old folks home. The children learn from the older people and learn to relate with them instead of being afraid of them and not understanding them. Also by this method the children learn to accept a death in knowing that it is a way of life." SD

"Getting young and old together is another solution. . . A growing number of programs are now aimed at stimulating contact between young and old. Adjoining centers allow easy mingling and interaction."ND

"Senior citizens could be contacted and given an opportunity to be an 'adopted' grandparent. The senior citizens could not only be there to listen to their problems but to also give them a hug as only a 'grandparent' can give." OH

A Big Worry Concerned The Availability Of Affordable Daycare Facilities . . .

"Although only 14.7% children attend a day-care center, day-care centers get the most attention."KS

"The bill (HR3299) also neglects the fact that one-third of all child care in the United States is provided by religious organizations. These groups are doing a decent job now. It is foolish to spend funds elsewhere when we already have these highly-successful organizations already in operation. There would be no more prayer, Bible stories and songs, Christmas customs, and other traditional activities most Americans grew up with. These activities contributed greatly to our society as it is today." OH

". . .those who contest subsidization of religious centers would appear to be against the moral values of most churches. If this is the case, they would be against teaching any value system at all, rather than to impose their personal value system on others. If you attempted to avoid teaching any value system at all, as you would have to do in order to completely separate church and state, you would be teaching another value system, one which supported no morals at all." OK

"The congress once proposed a bill to give families $1,000 dollars per child per year to help with day care. This isn't a good solution either. How many parents in the world are going to use the money to provide day care?" TX

"It seems to me that when money is placed directly in the hands of working parents for the benefit of their children those funds are often used by the parents for their own personal use. Why not disperse that money directly to day care institutions. This would not only help reduce the cost for parents but it would also prevent them from using funds for their personal use." WI

"By bypassing the parents and paying the centers directly, much red tape is avoided and the threat that a parent might use the money irresponsibly is avoided." GA

"It's not that people aren't trying to earn the money to pay for child care, it's just that everything costs so much these days that the average red blooded American like me can't afford to pay for my children's future." FL

"Most of the attention is focussed on day care center, because they are the fastest-growing segment; but they account for only a small percent of child care arrangements." KS

"Government should cut the costs of day care to where they are affordable for parents. They should target and coordinate state programs which will serve all children, and provide incentives to businesses to expand day care. They should also target tax credits to aid poor families." MS

" The government could consider sending funds directly to the parents needing the help with their children. The problem with this is that many times the money the parents get go for other things and not for the care of the children." MO

"A possible solution might be something like this. The government provides good quality childcare for everyone. Those who can afford it pay full fee. Those who are currently on government assistance would no longer get a free ride or a chance to feel like the sum of society. Instead they would be evaluated and have a chance to be either trained on a job or take some kind of classes to make them employable. During this time the government would assume financial responsibility (just as it had been doing anyway) as well as providing complete childcare. Once the person had a job that person would assume an increasing amount of the financial burden on a sliding fee basis." FL