The authors of the recently published survey of Quebec's system of universal childcare were careful not to draw any strong conclusions from their work, and tried to avoid the moralistic overtones that characterise much academic research into childcare (NW 9 February 2006). Unfortunately, research into this subject is frequently driven by social, ideological and moral concerns and so the evidence it presents is often unreliable.
In the 1970s research was informed by widespread disapproval of maternal employment. The clear expectation was that children would receive inferior care if they grew up in a family where the mother went out to work. Is it any surprise that many researchers who investigated pre-school and nursery care anticipated finding evidence of harm to children?
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