TAMIU lacks one very important on-campus facility. Daycare services! With over half of the women enrolled in the university being mothers, the campus still fails to provide safe services that allow these students to take their children to when they are attending classes.
It’s no doubt that TAMIU is a good university that provides an awesome education and excellent health, fitness, library, and food services, but what about child care? What is a mother to do when she has class all day and no one to watch her child/children? Better yet, where do mothers who live on campus take their children? Leaving a child unattended is never an option, and having to drive out of the way to leave the child with a babysitter is a hassle, not to mention a dent on your financial status.
“Exactly why doesn’t the university provide daycare services on campus? I’m eight months pregnant and with my due date just around the corner, I am worried that I will have no one to take care of my baby when I am in class,” said Stacey Rodriguez, senior here at TAMIU.
It has been a big controversy as to why college mothers tend to quit school after they have a baby. Professors and advisors stress that dropping out of school will only hurt you in the long run, but oftentimes these women drop out of school because they have no one to care for their children. Not all mothers who attend TAMIU have family here, or are from here for that matter. Thus, going back home is truly their only ultimatum.
“After I graduated high school I had a baby boy. Needless to say, I am a single parent as most women are nowadays. I knew I had to grow up and take responsibility for my own actions. Leaving him with my mother was never a possibility, so I brought him to the dorms with me. This year, he’s back at home with my mother,” explained Margie Ruiz, sophomore here at TAMIU.
The common answer to situations like this is that the mother can always take their child with them to class. However, it’s not always that simple.
“I figured that bringing my son with me to school wouldn’t be that bad. If I had class, I would just take him along with me. I was wrong. Some of my professors did not allow me to bring my son with me to class, even though I explained to them that I had no one else to watch him. They told me that he was a distraction to the class,” said Ruiz.
Yes, there is no doubt that children can be a distraction at times. They need to be paid constant attention to. If certain professors do not allow children in the classroom, this is all the more reason as to why there should be facilities on campus that care for children.
“Why is it that LCC, a community college, is able to provide daycare services on campus for parents?” asked Rodriguez.
While the answer to this isn’t certain, money is more than likely the primary reason as to why TAMIU does not offer daycare. Also, hiring skilled workers who have the experience and ability to handle children is another obstacle. Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to children. Still, this is no reason as to why this service should not be implemented.
“Perhaps surveys should be taken as proof of how important and vital this type of care is needed. I can’t stress enough how much voicing your opinion matters in situations like these,” commented Rodriguez.
TAMIU began as a very small university, slowly working its way up, adding more and more facilities necessary for students to obtain a good, solid education. If there are enough funds available for new buildings solely for financial aid, then there is enough funds to create a program devoted to parents and their children. Where there’s a will, there’s a way