Opinion: Low Pay in ‘Helping’ Professions Creates a Moral Dilemma for Colleges

The warning signs for early childhood educators, healthcare workers, and others in helping professions have been blinking red for years. Childcare workers can make more at Target or Dunkin’ Donuts than caring for toddlers at a daycare. Almost 20 percent of public school teachers work a second job during the school year, according to government survey data. And The Washington Post recently featured a pre-K teacher for special-needs students who is selling her plasma twice a week because her salary isn’t enough to support her two kids.