"If only we could get the mothers or fathers to stay home and raise their kids, instead of strangers, our society of tomorrow might be a better place to live." MT

". . .no matter how good the child care is, it is not possible for it to be as good as parents taking personal care of the children." TX

"A parent at home would also give the child a reason to take pride in his or her work at school or home by taking an interest in the youth's life." AZ

"A parent who chooses to stay home and not pursue a career outside of the home is spending valuable time with the child. The parent keeps a family atmosphere in the home and hopefully will bring the value of a family back to society." MI

". . .mothers who do not go out to work, provide better and more fulfilling lives for their children. . .There are always disadvantages to every situation, but the advantages of mothers who stay at home to raise her children, are much greater and more important." OH

"No matter how devoted a babysitter is to a child, it isn't the same to the child as having his own parents to provide consistent, loving discipline. . . Children need their mothers at home." MI

"Many tests run on children from child cares and stay home situations lean firmly toward staying home. Studies show that by five or six months old, most of a baby's physical and mental abilities are acquired and the infants who bond solely with a mother or father have more well adjusted children." WA

"Recent studies have indicated that even children in quality child care situations may not do as well academically or socially as generations before who spent their younger years home with mom." MN

"When the question is asked, "What is really best for the children?', one has to say that there is just no substitute for a child's parents. No day-care center or run-of-the-mill social worker can teach a child about life with the love and devotion of a mother and father. though it may seem unfair to the woman who wishes to remain in the working force, a strong argument is given that states that the mother's round-the-clock presence is crucial to normal development of a child." NY

But even on this point there is diversity of opinion . . .

"Sometimes however, mothers do not deserve to have their children at home with them. Some because they drink or take drugs, or because they abuse their children. Others however, are just mean and rotten; they make their children cry and give their children complexes." PA

"The government cannot see the craving of the youngsters in this country for protection from abusive, insultive and discouraging parents. By forming a committee and organizing a program in which people are investigated, to compose reports on how children are cared for by protecting the children of today, society can insure the future." VA

"Author, Betty Friedan, insists that children blossom in child care. . .Day cares will ultimately become beneficial to society by better preparing children for real life situations." MI

"I am very much in favor of taking your child to a day care center and allowing the mother to go back to work." NE

"Taking care of a child all day every day is definitely physically demanding and many women feel they are not rewarded for their hard efforts. However, if a mother has a good job, she receives such rewarding things as high pay, promotions, and maybe even social status." IL

"Early reports on children who spent time in day care were optimistic that those children were more independent and made friends easier, but more recent studies shed a large degree of concern on the affects of day care." CA

"The pro side to government day care is very minimal, but it does exist. Society is very different from what it used to be. We, as a country, cannot be so narrow-minded as to not see the needs of others. The fact is that many Americans are in need of a service like a government day care program." MI

"Mothers who are forced to stay at home with their children, as opposed to getting a job, sometimes don't feel very good about themselves. They develop a low sense of self-worth. They feel that their life is pointless and that they are not accomplishing anything for themselves. When the mother has a poor attitude, the child is bound to develop a poor attitude." KS

"There are plenty of jobs out there, and there is no excuse for both parents not working." CT

"But kids don't really appreciate a family dinner as compared to a new Barbie doll." TX

"A working mother also shows the child that mom is trying to do her part in the well being of the family by working. She is helping out greatly with the financial status of the family. It also shows the child you have to work for what you get. The child may also realize that some sacrifices have to be made to achieve the goal. Finally the children may realize the parents are doing it for them." IA

"Clearly a child who has a working mother, who cares for them, will develop into a better person in the long run. The child will learn more, discover more, be more independent and be able to do things on their own. In a sense the child will be more prepared for what society has in store for them." MA

"Is mom patient enough to deal with junior for upwards of fourteen hours a day? In many cases the answer is no. And when mom becomes impatient, bad things can begin to happen. What began as a wholesome desire to be with her child could quite possibly turn into a horrible story of child abuse." MI

"There are many ways a child can be given a happier home life. Some of these options are childrens homes, foster care and other family members such as aunts or grandparents." MO

"(Many children questioned by Parent's magazine) said that if their mothers did not work, it would not be as much fun because they would not have as much money to get new clothes or take vacations. A few children said that even if their mother did stay at home, they would not see them that much anyway. Because of their activities such as soccer, little league, piano practice, church activities, and basketball practice, they would get home about the same time their mothers would from work. Others children said having a working mother gave them more space, time to be alone. When asked if they felt they would work outside the home when they grew up, most of the children said they would. They stated they 'would not feel useful simply sitting around the house'."SD