A story of two child-care centres in urban Virginia may seem an unlikely place to inspire thoughts on rural Prairie life. But it has some useful reminders about important principles.
The first centre, in Fairfax, Va., was the scene of momentary panic and horror when a mother arrived to get her child, but found the lights out and the doors locked. She had to break in through a window to find her child, who had been forgotten by the centre’s workers.
In nearby Reston, Va., however, staff and directors of another child-care centre are adamant that such a horror story could never happen at their location.
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One reason for that confidence is that the Reston centre is a co-operative, owned and controlled by the parents who use it.
As reported in Cooperative Business Journal, the parent-elected directors place great emphasis on a well trained and well supervised quality staff. After all, it’s in their children’s interest.
Although not mentioned in the article, many child-care and education co-operatives go a step further and make it a condition of membership that parents undertake some role that is practical for them – taking turns as a teacher’s aide, helping arrange excursions, serving on recruitment or planning committees, etc.
The more members are involved with their co-operatives, the greater the benefits the co-operative can provide the whole membership.
That’s something that’s easy to see when it’s one’s own child sitting frightened and forgotten.
It’s somewhat more difficult when it’s a financial or economic service that could indirectly affect their futures.
That doesn’t mean co-ops have a monopoly on good service. There are many private child-care centres that also provide good service.
But when important matters are at stake, it makes sense to consider co-operative solutions, to help one’s neighbors and oneself by contributing to a co-op, to take advantage of the opportunities a co-op offers to participate in decision-making.
Children’s futures can be affected by day-care centres. And by the economic influence of local credit unions or co-op stores. And by the marketing co-ops, small and large, that handle the produce of family farms.
With all the concerns about loss of rural services and lack of opportunities for rural development, the co-operative way is timelier than ever.
There are co-operatives of all sizes working in one way or another to serve rural families. But to be their best, they need member involvement.
