MenTeach E-News
January 2012
1) Assessing the Impact: The Value of Men as Caregivers in Early Care and Education
2) Administrator Suggestions Regarding the Recruitment of Male Elementary Teachers
3) For girls, teachers’ gender matters, study says
4) Employment Tips for First Time Teachers
5) Dr. Ed Klugman to receive the Steve Shuman Award in Support of Men in Early Education
6) Why are so many parents reluctant to hire men to care for their kids?
7) Chinese political advisors demand more male teachers
8) Students find female role model in male-dominated field
9) Tips for male teachers – A forum discussion
10) Early educator working with infants in Argentina
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1) Assessing the Impact: The Value of Men as Caregivers in Early Care and Education
Working with young children is perceived as women’s work, and men are noticeably absent in most early childhood classrooms. The purpose of this non-experimental, mixed- methods study was to explore how men in the classroom add value to the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE). The researcher was interested in how men as caregivers and educators perceive their place in a workplace dominated by women, and how their presence enhances learning experiences for the children and families they serve. Download the research: /node/2102
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2) Administrator Suggestions Regarding the Recruitment of Male Elementary Teachers
This paper explores situations that deter men from pursuing teaching certification in elementary education and presents the opinions of elementary school administrators regarding hiring practices involving male applicants. We contacted administrators from the 29 public school districts in Erie County in New York State and asked them to complete an online survey sharing their opinions about the lack of male teachers in grades K-2 and what they considered to be solutions to this situation. As gatekeepers to teaching positions, administrators can provide critical insights into strategies for increasing the number of males in the profession. Download the full study: /node/2103
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3) For girls, teachers’ gender matters, study says
Female elementary school teachers’ comfort with mathematics has an outsize effect on the girls they teach, according to new research.
Girls taught by a female teacher got a learning boost if that teacher had a strong math background, but had consistently lower math performance by the end of the school year if she didn’t, according to a study presented at the American Economic Association’s annual conference.
By contrast, boys’ math scores were not affected by having a female math teacher, regardless of the teacher’s background in that subject, and there were no differences in math performance among male and female students of male teachers of different math backgrounds. The study adds to growing evidence that children’s gender biases can significantly affect their own ability. Read the article: /node/2105
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4) Employment Tips for First Time Teachers
As a man in the field of Child Development, I know what it is like to be in search of a professional teaching position. Below are a few helpful pointers to help you stand out from the rest of the pack:
Look like you belong
First and foremost, make sure you look the part. Appearance goes a long way. The more professional that you present yourself the better your chances are of people taking you serious. Make sure you have conservative interview clothes. Always go into an interview with a shirt and tie, basic colored slacks, and casual shoes. Remove all piercings and cover all tattoos. You don’t want to give a potential employer any reason to pre-judge you. Read the rest of the tips: /node/2106
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5) Dr. Ed Klugman to receive the Steve Shuman Award in Support of Men in Early Education
[MenTeach – Ed Klugman has had a significant effect on the Early Education profession. Mr. Klugman has been mentioned in previous MenTeach posts. You can read an interview with him at the PBS.org site.]
The Steering Committee of MenTeach-New England this weekend decided to give Dr. Ed Klugman our annual Steve Shuman Award in Support of Men in Early Education. See more information and the links: /node/2108
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6) Why are so many parents reluctant to hire men to care for their kids?
When my husband and I toured a preschool last week, the owner told me that her husband, a classical musician, sometimes pops in to play piano for the kids. I assumed she was trying to impress us–what parent doesn’t want a little extra Bach in her child’s life? – but then she explained, nervously, that she was telling us because she felt she had to. Read his story: /node/2110
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7) Chinese political advisors demand more male teachers
Political advisors in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Sunday called for more male teachers to be recruited to elementary schools.
A current lack of male teachers in China’s kindergartens, primary and middle schools weakens the chances of students receiving balanced education from teachers of both genders, local political advisors said at the annual session of Guangxi’s political advisory body. Read the entire story: /node/2111
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8) Students find female role model in male-dominated field
[MenTeach: What if you changed ‘girl’ in this article to ‘boy’ and ‘women’ to ‘men’ and offered early education careers or nurturing careers for men? Would you consider being a role model for boys and men to teach?]
Ask a 7-year-old girl what she wants to be when she grows up, and the possibilities are endless. She may tell you she wants to be a doctor or lawyer one day then decide to be an astronaut or teacher the next.
Ask a 17-year-old girl the same question, and if she is excelling in mathematics, she might tell you she wants to explore her strengths and become an engineer, a mathematical researcher, or a college professor.
But history has shown that teenage girls who plan careers in mathematics are more likely to change their plans than pursue them. Read the entire article: /node/2113
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9) Tips for male teachers – A forum discussion
[MenTeach: Let’s look at some stories from the past – 2005] I am going back to school to get an elementary teaching certificate. I currently work in accounting and have a business degree but through years of volunteer work with Junior Achivement feel that teaching is my calling. I found a great accelerated program and looking forward to changing to a more rewarding career. I know male elementary teachers are rare and my advisor has told me I will have no problem getting a job if I come out of the program with the needed skills and great portfolio.
My question is to any male teachers out there or any female teachers out there who have worked with males, what are the biggest obstacles you see me facing when I do begin to teach? Are the female teachers accepting of a male? What is the work environment like in a female dominated setting? How do parents react when their child has a male teacher? Any and all answers, suggestions, opinions would be appreciated. I don’t even know a male elementary teacher that I can ask personally. Read the posting and then all the comments: /node/162
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10) Early educator working with infants in Argentina
[MenTeach: We wanted to remind you about some Men’s Stories from the past. Here’s one from 2006. Daniel Brailovsky from Argentina no longer works as an early child educator.]
I’m an early child educator and I work daily with a one-year old group of children in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
My work as a teacher isn’t, however, my unique way of interest in this topic (i.e. the male teachers) I am studying at San Andres University and I’m planning to do my thesis about male teachers in early childhood education.
How long have you been teaching?
I’ve been teaching since 1996.
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