Having Scandinavian roots and serving a mission in Norway really cemented my affinity to extreme northern Europe. When I lived there as a 19-20 year-old, the things that struck me were things that someone my age would notice. Things like, gee, they don't have homelessness here. Or hunger. Or poverty. Or pollution. You know, the little things. I'd read that the Scandinavian countries were the best countries to be a parent, but I didn't really know what that entailed, parenthood being far off on my horizon. Well, I've recently been reading daddy blogs--yes, I'm reading frickin' DADDY BLOGS, okay. Stop giving me grief! Anyway, one of them is from a guy in Sweden. Yesterday he posted about the day care system there and I was literally dumbfounded. Here's his post, because you have GOT to read this:
Kids here in Sweden are not allowed at day care before 12 months of age. Many, like our son and daughter, have started at age 18 months (by choice). It's possible to hire a nanny privately but I don't know a single person that has done so. There's no reason to do so since every person, mother of father, has the right to paternity/maternity leave at almost full pay for about 18 months. People here are spoiled and don't realize how great of a benefit this is. I call it parent and family heaven.
Everyone has the right to the same day care, public or private. You can choose any school you like. Cost is exactly the same and all regulated by government (sounds scary but it's actually fantastic). You're guaranteed a space for your child by giving 3 months of advance notice. Like any other modern country there are schools with different educational directions. Our kids go to a school with a Montessori inspired approach. Cost for full time care, 7:30-5 pm is $200 per month. Half for the second child. Part time care, 30 hours a week like we do, is $140 per child and half for the second. This includes everything you can possibly think of. Diapers, food, snacks, excursions, and supplies.
Funny thing is every family receives a $200 monthly check (per child) until the child is 18 years of age. It's not income dependent. Those checks may be used for anything, it's up to the parents. So great day care is basically free, or a profit for us. We dump the kids $400 into their accounts and the kids will get this little starting capital when they turn 15.
Taxes are a little higher here, I do pay about the same income tax as in NYC and a little higher than Mexico City. Difference is you get nothing for the money in those two other places while benefits here are amazing. A few examples are a safe society, no pollution, free high quality day care and schools (all the way through university), and plenty of paternity/maternity leave.
How much does day care/pre-school cost the government? The total cost for all costs in school up to age 6 is roughly $5 billion a year. That's including everything. Converted for the larger population in the U.S., the cost would be roughly $150 billion a year. That may sound a lot but after seeing the differences I'm totally convinced the cost absorbed by government is a phenomenal investment. Kids growing up in a healthy day care/school environment with parents who are at work without worrying about their child's crappy and expensive day care are given a great base to stand on. I'm sure the benefits are small at a young age but the payback comes as our lovely kids grow up.
What do you get for $150 billion? It's a large chunk of money, roughly the same as the cost of war in Iraq for only one year. It's not as simple as comparing the two but it's indication of what you get for that kind of money. And perhaps more importantly, it's also a sign of priorities. Education nowhere near the top of priorities has very negative long term consequences, something we're starting to see today in U.S.
Can you believe that? I can't believe those silly Swedes. They think that family values means ensuring excellent child care for every child in the country and giving parents the resources they need, when in fact family values means denying gays marriage rights.
Seriously, though, how does one go about getting a job in Sweden?
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4 comments:
I was actually wondering the same thing, for a different reason. I think I will leave the country if another Clinton gets into office. I am not opposed to a democarat, just that specific family.
I was totally thinking the same thing about "family values." isn't it interesting what some people consider family values?
As far as the education thing goes, I think it all comes down to what is a right and what is a privilege. They apparantly think it is a right to have decent day care and education, and we think it is a privilege given to people that "work hard" enough to make the money.
I'm such a fan of Scandinavia! and, now, daddy blogs!
I'm thinking you need to run for office and change a few perceptions...or failing that you need to repeat loudly on the bus every morning that Europeans pay similar taxes as Americans (currently 38% highest bracket in Ireland) and we somehow manage to look after our citizens...even if they are old or young or even infirm! Crazy!WHat is happening to America?=ber
When you get that job in Sweden you totally need to hook me up. All we got was a lousy $600 tax deduction. Plus you can only write off 3K and I am here to tell you that doesn't even come CLOSE to covering the US daycare costs (even in a crappy one)
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