It's at a church I attended last week. When I looked in this nursery, I could hardly believe my eyes. I almost cried.
It's at a methodist church in CA.
I just deleted some identifying details that I had originally added in response to your post. But since their own website doesn't show this room, I won't name the location.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2018 10:52PM by kathleen.
I don't think it's stupid at all. I worked in Mormon nurseries. My budget was zero.
At my longest stint, we had 18 to 25 kids and we could not fit in the closet they called a nursery. I was fine being in the gym because the nursery stunk--big time--year round.
They were building a precious temple next door and they used my "nursery" for a staging/storage area. I'd roll in Sunday morning to find rolls of carpet and piles of boards, some with nails.
Complaining did nothing. It wasn't safe and no one cared. People got very angry because I put up signs asking them not to cut through. Priesthood holders felt the need to interrupt my class to tell me I couldn't put up those signs--because they were somehow in charge?...inconvenienced?
It was a thousand offenses that finally convinced me that the majority of the people there didn't care about the kids at all. AT ALL.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2018 10:11AM by Dorothy.
My kids' playroom at home looks similar except for fewer tables and chairs. My wife spent a whole lot decorating, furnishing, and stocking it. My sister-in-law wouldn't let her kids in the nursery at the ward meetinghouse nearest me. She was afraid her kids would contract hepatitis.
kathleen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > SCMD, what lucky kids! > :D
Yes, they are. My wife doesn't spoil them all that much for the most part except for their playroom. She didn't have many playthings as a kid. Her dad hadn't earned his fortune yet when she was young.
Our son slipped out of the ward nursery, and since the nursery door was right next to the side exit, he left the building--a building in proximity to both I-5 and the Sacramento River.
Someone driving by saw a toddler in the street and figured he must belong in the Mormon church. So they brought him in.
Do you suppose we learned about that right away? Nope! Someone finally told DH about the incident.
kathleen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Our son slipped out of the ward nursery, and since > the nursery door was right next to the side exit, > he left the building--a building in proximity to > both I-5 and the Sacramento River. > > Someone driving by saw a toddler in the street and > figured he must belong in the Mormon church. So > they brought him in. > > Do you suppose we learned about that right away? > Nope! Someone finally told DH about the incident.
I would die of horror and shame if a kid I was supposed to be watching escaped. When you're in charge of little kids, you watch them at all costs. The child probably wasn't missed until he was returned. In addition to having more safeguards including an alarm on the door and possibly a Dutch door, the church should be more careful about who is left in charge of the children in the nursery. The church is liable if a child is harmed either through escape or through other negligence.
When i was nursery leader my nursery looked clean, smelled clean and unless we had a new kid just joining us i could leave the door open and the kids stayed in the room! We had a schedule with song time, lesson time, snack time, craft time, play time). Nursery was one of my favourite callings ( i have a primary/ junior teaching certificate). I refused to be in it by myself for legal reasons- if something happened this could have affected my job. The bishop kept having interviews with one of my helpers without letting me know ahead of time so i could make different arrangements. Then finally, the primary president found out my testimony was floundering ( i was dealing with child abuse issues from my past and was not that happy with god at the time. ) Since i didn't tearfully cry when i was confronted with this woman and also didn't explain myself to her ( this was a private issue that only a few people knew about, and she was not one of them), she said they needed a spiritual nursery so i was being released. Nursery went back to being its disgusting self again. When i had my 2nd child i refused to send her to the nursery. Then we found out the church was a fake and stopped going altogether.
I spent many years off and on in Nursery,only allowed my own Children in when I was serving in there,room was around 8x12,no where big enough,no chairs as no room for them and the children,no money spent on toys/kits etc some families brought old toys in which were dirty and downright dangerous,imagine 8-10 children in there and 2 adults for 2 hours,soul destroying,always found it strange that any Bishops/BP or wealthy wives never served in there.
I think this is a good example of how most churches keep their donations in house to fulfil their needs instead of sending the money off to central headquarters. If you look at a typical non-Mormon church budget, most churches only send 5-10% of donations off to central headquarters. They keep the rest. Yes, the members have to pay the church's mortgage (if necessary,) heat, lights, janitorial service, etc. They also pay salaries of their ministers, staff, organist, and so on. But they are not starved for funds. Their activities budgets are not a joke. They are often able to provide for charitable work in the community as well.
And they do all this on an average donation of less than 3%.
I am no fan of the megachurch I lived near in Kentucky, but...
Their nursery staff was screened, trained, and paid. The kids and parents each had matching bracelets. If the parent was needed, their number would flash on a screen in each room.
Imagine a church having enough money to buy propaganda on a giant playroom rug (like in that picture).
I say tax these places. Or, remove tax breaks for contributions given to churches that are presumed to be used for charitable causes and are really used to perpetuate the indoctrination.
Nothing against kids having nice play areas, but kids at almost any church are being fed nonsense.
One thing that strikes me where I live is how different things would be if people cared as much about their schools as they do their churches. Megachurch businesses are on every corner. Schools are scrounging for repairs and supplies. Education is not important in reality because most religions have a vested interest in giving lip service to education but undermining it where they can. Under educated people make the best flocks.