Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft "Teacher" Controversy Heats Up

Update: "Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts Changes Policy!

Should Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts change its "Teacher Rewards" program to include family child care providers and other teachers of children ages infant to kindergarten?

That's the question that has generated a lot of controversy since my recent blog post "Are Family Child Care Providers Teachers?"

The company's program offers a 15% discount for K-12 state certified teachers and to home school teachers but not to those who care for children in family child care or child care center settings.

This issue was first raised by Jacqueline Crocker, a family child care provider in the Kansas City area. She posted a request on Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts Facebook page that it change its policy. The company said they would refer her request to the program administrator. So far nothing has been heard from this person.

In my last blog I urged child care providers to post their views on Jo-Ann's Facebook page. The more than 50 child care providers that have left comments have overwhelming urged the company to change its policy.

Brenda Boisseau wrote on their page: "I have been a preschool teacher in both traditional and family childcare. We are educators in every sense of the word, no matter what the setting. Family child care providers deserve to be recognized."

Here is the name of the person you can write a letter to at Jo-Ann's about this:

Lisa Greb, Corporate Communications Director, Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts Stores, Attention: Teacher Rewards Program, 5555 Darrow Road, Hudson, Ohio 44236.

I sent a letter to Ms. Greb today. In it I said that their policy is disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of teachers who care for young children in family child care.

Its policy "reinforces the false message that children only start learning when they enter kindergarten. We live in a society that recognizes the importance of supporting children from kindergarten through college, but places little value on the education of preschool children. From everything we know about brain development in infants this is clearly wrong headed. There are many studies indicating that investing in preschool education will make a bigger impact in the lives of children than investing at any later age." By preschool I mean children ages infant to kindergarten.

I recommended that the company add the following language to its Teacher Rewards program: "It would also apply to current state certified, credentialed or licensed teacher or child care worker in a state regulated program serving preschool children."

If you have different language to suggest than mine, please let me know because I will be following up with the company.

The National Association for Family Child Care has also written a letter to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft.

There are several things child care providers could do at this point to urge Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft to change their policy:

1) Write a letter to Lisa Greb. She will forward your letter to the program administrator.

2) Post your views on their company Facebook page.

This Saturday and Sunday (January 8th and 9th) Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts has "Teacher Appreciation Days" where teachers can save 20% on every in-store purchase and receive other rewards. In the past some family child care providers have been able to get this discount by asking for it and showing their license. If you try this let me know what happened.

In 2009 child care providers Kay Vanovershelds, Pam Elliott and Rose Grimes contacted the company to change its policy - without success. Rose is still active in making a difference this time around.

To keep track of the latest news follow me on Facebook. Or check out the ongoing discussions at daycare.com and Linkedin.

See new blog article by Elana Centor -Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts Stumbles in Social Media Dust Up

Tom Copeland - www.tomcopelandblog.com

Photo credit: joann-fabrics-coupons.com