The governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (N.A.E.Y.C.) has rejected a proposal to allocate a fixed portion of its membership dues to the "Worthy Wage Campaign," a national initiative advocating for higher wages for child-care workers. However, during the group’s annual conference, N.A.E.Y.C. leaders emphasized their commitment to seeking better compensation for early-care professionals. Their goal is to improve the quality of child-care services while keeping them affordable for parents. "We are on your side," said Lilian G. Katz, the president of the organization, addressing members who expressed concerns about underpaid child-care workers.
In 1987, N.A.E.Y.C. launched the "Quality, Compensation, and Affordability" campaign to raise public awareness about the cost of high-quality care and promote strategies for fair distribution of these costs across different sectors of society. Instead of solely focusing on salaries, the campaign aims to make pay more reflective of professional training and responsibility.
The Child Care Employee Project, a nonprofit advocacy group currently based in Oakland, California, launched the Worthy Wage Campaign in 1991. With support from over 100 state, local, and national groups, this five-year effort encourages caregivers to organize in their communities, plan local rallies, and hold forums on the issue of low child-care wages on "Worthy Wage Day" each April. Some actions have even included the temporary closure of child-care centers. In 1991, N.A.E.Y.C. unanimously endorsed the Worthy Wage Campaign and pays an annual $500 membership fee to be a supporting organization.
However, Walter Draude, a governing-board member and member of the committee on quality, compensation, and affordability, acknowledged that the pressure on N.A.E.Y.C. to do more has been increasing. In July, the committee suggested dedicating a portion of N.A.E.Y.C. membership dues to the Worthy Wage Campaign, but the board narrowly rejected the proposal. At the meeting in Anaheim this month, the board also declined a proposal by the California Association for the Education of Young Children to allocate 10 cents of each member’s dues, equivalent to about $8,900, to the campaign.
One of the reasons for the board’s decision is the fear of setting a precedent for funding external organizations. Marilyn Smith, the N.A.E.Y.C.’s executive director, assured that the board would continue to support the campaign by providing free conference space and publicity for its activities. The N.A.E.Y.C. also outlined several strategies to address compensation issues, including incorporating new data on the impact of insufficient resources on program quality and children into their statements, promoting professional development to improve qualifications and opportunities for advancement, budgeting funds for projects enhancing child-care compensation and working conditions, and producing educational materials on the "Quality, Compensation, and Affordability" campaign.
During the conference, participants at an open session urged the N.A.E.Y.C. leadership to reconsider their stance. They displayed a banner with the names of workers who left the field due to financial reasons. Members also suggested various approaches to tackle the problem, such as organizing a leadership conference on compensation and offering reduced fees and scholarships to assist underpaid teachers and students attending the annual conference.
Your objective is to rephrase the complete text in more refined language, ensuring its uniqueness and naturalness. All content should be in English. The original text to be rewritten is as follows:
Original Text: "The capital city of France is Paris. It is famous for its iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Paris is often referred to as the "City of Love" due to its romantic ambiance and association with romance in popular culture. Additionally, it is renowned for its fashion industry and is considered a global hub for art, culture, and gastronomy. Many tourists visit Paris each year to experience its charm and immerse themselves in its rich history."
Rephrased Text: "Paris stands as the capital of France, celebrated for its renowned landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Often hailed as the epitome of romance, Paris earns its title as the ‘City of Love’ through its enchanting atmosphere and affiliation with amorousness in popular traditions. Not only does it boast an illustrious fashion industry, but it also reserves its status as a global nexus for art, culture, and culinary expertise. Countless travelers flock to Paris annually, seeking to relish in its alluring character and immerse themselves in its abundant historical tapestry."
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