2/19/2014

Men in Early Childcare

Social and Political Issues Project

Allen Boland

Men in Early Childhood Education Ways of addressing the Elephant in the room and ways to Encourage and Promote their involvement in the Early Childhood profession. I personally have always enjoyed learning, sharing, playing and working with children and teaching was something that seemed exciting. Even though I had a lot of teachers within my family, I never really considered it as an option for me except for over these past few years. I had some great opportunities to help volunteer and work at several different centers, which allowed me to get a feel for what being an educator was all about. So I hurried to get my application into Holland College, and soon found out that I was accepted into the program. As I entered into my first year in the Early Childhood Care and Education program at Holland College, I really didnt know what to expect. I did however become aware that being a male in this field is a different experience for myself and everyone else as well. There were many things that I needed to be aware of. Traditionally the role of woman has been mostly attributed to the task of nurturing and raising of their children, while men are out working earning money to support the family. Even though these ideas have changed significantly over the years, they still have a long ways to go towards that of equality. Equality, not just in terms of family members and family roles, but also the roles of woman and men in society. The roles of and expectations for fathers have been changing drastically in our society. Many of todays fathers are moving closer to the current ideal of women and men being equal partners in childrearing.Expectations of men have changed in recent years. Their participation in housework and child rearing has increased significantly as has the number of stay at home fathers.(Shimoni & Baxter, 2008, p. 33, 34). I still believe that the idea that woman are better care takers, is still very prevalent today. I also believe that it is an age old debate, that has many resources and research that could easily support either side of the argument. Underlying all this change, however, many of the stereotypes are still thriving. Right from the start of the course I started to question, why was there so few men in the Early Childhood field? I had my suspicions, but I wanted to delve further into the topic to see if my thoughts were common to those of other males in field. According to Paul Sargent of San Diego State University, it may be even more important to consider that men working in ECE

(or contemplating doing so) might be deterred by significant negative social consequences such as:

Homophobic reactions from others. Suspicions regarding the mens motives for working with small children. o The single greatest impediment to the mens attempts to operate in the field of ECE is the ever-present specter of molestation. The theme that elicited the most emotional responses from the teachers was that of having to work with children under a cloud of suspicionand of being constantly evaluated. (Sargent, 2004, p.
178)

Questions regarding mens abilities to care for children. o Some parents are a bit jumpy about men, for instance, changing diapers or accompanying children to the bathroom or helping them change clothes. (Sargent, 2004, p. 179) o Early education is strongly associated with motherhood and, as such, with physical contact and tender ministrations. While women teachers can safely and uncritically integrate

these behaviors into their pedagogy as a means of transmission of curriculum content, men cannot. (Sargent, 2004, p. 179) o All of the mens actions around the children (e.g., classroom management, pedagogy, and conversations) are more closely monitored. Doubts from significant others about the mens lack of responsibility and drive. Long-standing myths about mens lack of patience and their inability to be child-centered.

These are some points that Paul has pointed out, but there can be a number of others as well. He goes on to further state that much of what has been said about men in ECE is based on some major misconceptions that the men would very much like to remedythe men must be proactive in terms of having a repertoire of strategies to deal with events that they know may raise suspicion. (Sargent, 2004, p. 177) One common idea that I continue to hear being expressed, is that there needs to be more male representation in this field. However, I really dont see many resources out there to encourage males to pursue a career with children, or even to make them aware of potential situations and how to respond to them. From doing research, and reading many interviews with male ECEs, one of the common factors amongst all of their responses was 1) to see a more positive view of society towards males working in child care and, 2) to see early childhood services actively promoting the benefits of males working with young children. So what can be done to help promote and encourage men to pursue a career in early childhood and help dispel some of the feelings behind stereotypes? The article titled Men in your Teacher Preparation Program (Nelson & Shikwambi, 2010) outlines five strategies to recruit and retain men within early childhood. 1. Have men work with children immediately: Supporting early, non-graded interactions with young children can build male students confidence in their ability to interact appropriately with young children. Many men find the opportunity to play with children a significant reason for choosing a career in education.

2. Provide a mentor: Research shows that having a good mentor is an important element in teachers successful development that time spent working with a mentor does improve teaching skills. Together with their mentors, male students can develop methods to combat the silent yet powerful stereotypes of men working with young children portrayed by the media and held by society. 3. Facilitate a mens support group: One major struggle for men in early education is isolation. If the men in a program meet together regularly, say, once a week, they can talk about issues relevant to their experiences. This may be difficult, but could include other professions where men are working with children. 4. Offer men a scholarship or stipend: A program could consider offering or counselling male applicants about scholarships and other financial incentives in order to balance the disincentives of negative stereotypes and societal perceptions of the low status of males in early education. 5. Adapt the programs culture to welcome men: An effective and responsive teacher preparation program will consider the cultural climate for men. Male students can also face an unwelcoming environment when they are the minority, which can put them at a significant educational disadvantage. I am now getting close to completing my second year in the Early Childhood program at Holland College. I know that I still have a lot to learn in this field and that learning is going to be a continuous thing. From my experience thus far, I think that it would be beneficial to give out a few words of advice to any males considering this branch of education. These are a few words that I thought up on my own: Dont feel intimidated: o Every one new to this field has to go through a lot of learning changes. Just because the task at hand seems overwhelming, dont believe that you are incapable of completing the task. If youre just entering into the field (this goes for everyone by the way), try and volunteer as much as you can before even applying to take further training. This can help you get a better idea of what you will be facing in this field.

o This will give you a realistic view of what teaching entails. As well as that this job is a lot more than babysitting. It also involves teaching which, is not an easy task. o If you are lucky, try and find other male educators to interview, job shadow or observe. Think about possible answers to questions that you think others will ask you, ahead of time such as: o Why did you become an early childhood

the challenges that you are going to face as a male educator working with children. Have a clear understanding and mindset about your beliefs and what your personal philosophy is all about. This can help you explain to others why you do what youre doing. Be more open minded, and take anything you hear with a grain of salt. o Be patient and be willing to take advice. o Although it may be hard, you need to learn not to take things personally. o Criticism can be constructive, no matter what form it is actually delivered in. Be very aware of what your real passions are and find all of those things that can keep you motivated, both within the workplace, and outside the work environment. Also being aware of your personal strengths and weaknesses is important. This is a profession, and you are a professional. Realize the importance of presenting yourself as a professional.

I have had a great time within the Early Childhood Course, and there is really so much to learn. I was thrilled to see that there is now such a push towards play, and all of the many ben efits that stem from this. As well I am very much interested in Emergent Curriculum which is also gaining more focus. I wish that this sort of push in education existed while I was in school I found that all I really did while I was in school was memorize how things were done, and performed tasks as they were expected to be done. Memorization for me really isnt learning, because it really didnt mean anything to me. I needed to be more hands on and make a connection to what I was learning, to see how it was actually applicable. I believe that there are many things that exist today that can scare men away from pursuing a career working with children. This is a shame, and there really needs to be more supports out there to encourage and attract men to the field of early childhood education. I hope that this article will encourage me to continue to be an advocate for mens place in this field. -Allen Boland - ECCE Student

educator? o Why do you work with children? o Why do you think it is important to have some male representation within a childcare center? Try to become aware of the stereotypes that are out there and learn to defend yourself and your actions. Be aware of

Men in child care a blessing or an ethical dilemma Video Transcript. NewsGuy> The news has swept across the nation and it is in all the newspapers and tabloids! What is all this cuffufal about you ask? Indeed these are strange times, where men are taking on different responsibilities and changing the roles they play within society. However the topic that is up for discussion today is.. Men working as educators in early childhood. Is this a move in the right direction? Or is it just another ethical dilemma that we need to deal with? Please keep your eyes on the bottom of the screen for some important updates. As well I am going to be taking calls in a few minutes from you fine folks out there, to get your opinion on this hot topic. If you are wanting to ask questions or pose questions to the general public, please call 1-800-NEWSGUY First caller we have on the line is Dwayne So Men in Childcare? Yea or Neagh? Dwayne > Well I got me own kids that are pretty good. I work most the time so I aint home too much. The missus does a good job taking care of em. Wouldnt someone want more of a mans job? I mean men arent known for all that love and affections stuff. NewsGuy > So is it the fact that its not a traditional mans job? Or is it the fact that you are uncomfortable letting another man watch your kids? Even though he is a certified professional?

Dwayne > Well I suppose that in some ways your right. When it comes down to it, I dont think men should do the diapers and helping kids in the bathroom.
NewsGuy > Why do you say that now? Dwayne > Well there I hear a lot about pedophiles and molesters and I wouldnt want to subject my children to that? NewsGuy > So let me pose this question to you you have a family doctor right? Dwayne > Yeah I do NewsGuy > Is the doctor male or female? Dwayne > Male NewsGuy > Do you trust this individual if they need to be alone with your kids during a routine checkup? Dwayne > Yeah I do, Ive known him for a while now and he is easy to understand and a good person NewsGuy > So Perhaps this is just a matter of developing a relationship with the male educator and seeing how they communicate and interact with your children?

Dwayne > Well you got a good point there NewsGuy > I sure do! thank you and now onto our next caller Hello there who is on the line now? Gertrude> My name is Gertrude NewsGuy > And what do you do for a living? Gertrude > I am a director a childhood center and I think that having men in a center is a good thing, although it is challenging. NewsGuy > Explain that further please Gertrude > Well I mean that really we only have some issues with some of the parents not being comfortable with a male as an educator. So I try to steer him away from any of the children whos parents are not comfortable. NewsGuy > So wait a second here, you try to deny these children contact with the male educator? I can only imagine the effect this would have on the children, as well as the emotional effect it would have on the male educator. Have you ever talked to the male educator or parents fully to try and understand the situation. Gertrude > Well I never really faced the parents about their concern, I just overheard some things. I suppose it would be in my professional interest to set up a meeting with them about this issue. Ive been ignoring doing this, because it is such a hard topic to talk about and uncomfortable. NewsGuy > I am sure that the male educator must stick out like a sore thumb. What are some other ways that you could help make this situation a little better? Gertrude > In my part I suppose it would be a matter of having more open communication and try to relieve any tensions that may exist between staff and parents. NewsGuy> And in terms of his teaching abilities, any word on that. I find that sometimes that I am watching the male educator more to see how he is doing, which I mean really isnt right. I have some new female staff that I should be watching more. So perhaps its a matter of offering more support and encouragement to him instead of being a security guard. And really all children need emotional support and being hugged and comforted are part of that. There really isnt any reason why I should deny the children to see comfort from a male either. Some of these children dont have a father at home. NewsGuy > Very well said my dear, and sorry but we are almost out of time, thanks for calling in. NewsGuy > So there you have it folks, you got a couple of different perspectives from both a parent and a director. Next week we will discuss more on how we can promote males in education and also discuss the various stereotypes that are haunting workplaces.

Before I go, I welcome you all to submit any ideas on todays topic to WWW.NEWSGUY.com As well, any ideas on how to promote awareness of this topic would be greatly appreciated. Until next time. Dont make assumptions because they just make an ass out of you and me Audios.

Resources:
Carter, M., Casio, J., & Terrones, N. (2013). Where Are the Boys?. Exchange (19460406), (213), 24-28. Friedman, S. (2010). MALE VOICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. YC: Young Children, 65(3), 41-45. Freidman, S. (2010, May). National Association for the Education of Young Children. Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/201005/YCFriedmanOnline0510.pdf Johnson, S., Middleton, R., Nicholson, N., & Sandrick, D. (2010). STILL SO FEW MALE TEACHERS. YC: Young Children, 65(3), 18-23. Men in early childhood. (2012). Educating Young Children: Learning & Teaching in the Early Childhood Years, 18(3), 13-16. Nelson, B. G., & Shikwambi, S. (2010). Five Strategies to Recruit and Retain Them. YC: Young Children, 65(3), 36-40. Piburn, D. (2010). WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THE MEN IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION?. YC: Young Children, 65(3), 46-50. Sargent, P. (2004). Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Men Caught in the Gender Bind of Early Childhood Education. Journal Of Men's Studies, 12(3), 173-192. Shimoni, R., & Baxter, J. M. (2008). Working with families. Toronto: Pearson Addison Wesley. Sumsion, J. (2000). Negotiating Otherness: a male early childhood educator's gender positioning. International Journal Of Early Years Education, 8(2), 129-140. doi:10.1080/0966976005004617