Early years educators are the superheroes we need to rescue

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Fiona Sherlock

What’s your superhero power? Is it the stamina and endurance of The Bionic Woman? The youth of Wonder Woman? Batman’s intelligence? Captain Marvel’s ability to sense when something is not quite right? Ireland’s early years educators have something in common with these comic book heroes — they manage an impossible feat for the good of society’s most vulnerable, our children.

But they are not rewarded for this task. On Friday, thousands of early years educators took to the streets and social media as part of Siptu’s #ValueEarlyYears campaign in search of recognition, and better pay and conditions. Many creches invited their children to dress up as superheroes or to wear the colour red for the day. Before the sun rose on Friday, smallies across the country were pulling out capes or dancing around the kitchen in costume.