Hi friends:
I've not participated in the list for a while, but am still with you all.
Since March of this year I have been working at a PreK through 12 school
as the Headmistress (???). We have several teaching staff members who are
either pregnant or nursing small babies. The school has a day care
(squeezed into what was once a storeroom, for lack of any additional space)
for the children of employees, but the lower age limit has been two years.
Many women on the staff have breastfed or breastmilk fed, but I couldn't
imagine being in charge of this school and not having a coherent policy for
the school. We had a mom who wanted to come back to work with a six week
old baby and we gave her that opportunity. Since we had no room at the day
care center, we said she could keep the baby with her in her Physical Ed
classroom. It has worked beautifully up until now, but we need to begin
thinking about the next step of the baby's life, when he won't be content
with being in the baby carrier or in his carriage during 8 hours a day and
will begin to be a distraction in the classroom, as he wakes more and is
more a part of the situation than he is now. We have a couple of Board of
Directors who have expressed their unhappiness with the situation
(basically arguing that this MUST distract the teacher).
Also, by mid semester next year, we will have 4 or 5 babies in the same
situation.
So....I need help from you all in the form of information on HOW schools
have supported breastfeeding by teaching staff in whatever
country/city/town you may live in. Also, if you are aware of research on
teacher satisfaction, job satisfaction, etc. I need specific info on
schools, as I have all of the general info on the cost-benefits of working
and breastfeeding. Also, if you are aware of any schools (especially
private schools, but public will do as well) where there are POLICIES to
support breastfeeding staff members, I would appreciate information.
Thanks.
Judy
Judy Canahuati, MPhil
Superintendent, Escuela Internacional Sampedrana
PO Box #565
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Phone: +504-566-2722; Fax: +504-566-1458
mailto:[log in to unmask]
School email:[log in to unmask]
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