I WELCOME the increasing calls to 'professionalise' pre-school teaching by providing better pay and training for teachers.

But I am concerned about the attitude that pre-school teachers should not 'waste' their time on tasks like wiping bottoms and feeding children.

The argument is that these tasks lower the prestige of pre-school teachers and distract them from their more important role of teaching. As a parent of two pre-schoolers, I believe that such an attitude reveals a misunderstanding over the way young children learn.

Educating pre-schoolers cannot be equated to imparting lessons to older children. Pre-school children do not differentiate between an 'educator' and a 'caregiver'.

They learn best from adults who are prepared to relate to them in a caring and personal way.

Those who aspire to be pre-school teachers must be prepared to meet the children's developmental needs, whether that involves singing the alphabet song or wiping runny noses.

Pre-school teaching is not just about disseminating information, but also about developing the whole person.

The teacher should not have an attitude that certain tasks are beneath her because of superior education or pay.

With the right attitude, pre-school teachers have a wonderful opportunity to impart life lessons beyond mere book learning. That would make the difference between a well-trained pre-school teacher and a great one.

Boey Shee Lye (Ms)

This article was first published in The Straits Times on January 21, 2009.