Most of us who work in early childhood education feel strongly that the work we do is valu

able,【C1】______ essential, to the well-being of children and society. Yet it is hard to hold on to this【C2】______ when it is not reflected in the salaries that we receive or in the respect and prestige accorded to us in our society. Because most programs for young children are paid for directly by parents and not by public funds,【C3】______ for teachers in programs for children under five and in many private schools tend to be【C4】______ lower than those paid teachers in public schools who do【C5】______ work. Low salaries are also a reflection of general【C6】______ of awareness of the importance of the early years and of the value of having well-trained and【C7】______ people working with young children. Because it is so difficult to make an adequate living as a teacher of young children and because caring for children has traditionally been【C8】______ as womens work, very few men choose to enter the field,【C9】______ there are some who would find it rewarding. Low pay also results【C10】______ high staff turnover, and this is especially unfortunate because it undermines the stability of adult-child relationships.

【C1】

A．yet

B．so

C．and

D．even