1) Percentage of men seem to be increasing at 2011 national conference
2) Men from China attending national conference
3) Role as father prepared this teacher for the classroom
4) African American male teacher shortage
5) Man discovers passion for education, finds next career
6) Kidsfirst leads the pack in boosting men in ECE in New Zealand
7) Federal Law Title IX covers more than sports
8) Falsely accused teacher struggles to cope
9) More men wanted for childcare jobs in Australia
10) 58% rise in Welsh male graduates opting for teaching
ABOUT MenTeach
JOIN or DONATE to MenTeach
VOLUNTEER for MenTeach
Forward Our Message
To be Removed From the List
—————
1) Percentage of men seem to be increasing at 2011 national conference
Although the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) conference in Orlando, Florida seems like there are fewer attendees overall, the percentage of men seems to be increased. Unfortunately the conference coordinators don’t track demographics, the men and women interviewed (especially those that have attended other national conferences) are noticing an increase. Read the story & see the photos: /node/1793
—————
2) Men from China attending national conference
One of the great experiences of attending a national conference like the National Association for the Education of Young Chlidren (NAEYC) is meeting new people. And especially guys from other parts of the world. One of the men in the photo is a Kindergarten teacher who works outside Beijing, China. It’s amazing to think that this guy is such an amazing pioneer and challenging the stereotypes about men. See the photo and read the story: /node/1798
—————
3) Role as father prepared this teacher for the classroom
Josh Shively embraced the role of stay-at-home dad without flinching at gender stereotypes. Patience, drive and the desire to be a role model made him a good father. Eight years later, the same characteristics helped him pursue a new career – a job with more of an impact than the retail position he quit when his first daughter was born. Shively, 39, became a teacher. “Being a parent gives you a different insight into how kids are behaving,” Shively said. “It also might give you a little more empathy for those kids, and their parents as well.” Read the story: /node/1800
—————
4) African American male teacher shortage
It’s a nationwide problem, the shortage of black male teachers. Only two-percent of the nation’s nearly five million teachers are African American. Watch the video story. Twenty-eight-year-old Craig King has taught third grade at Whittaker Elementary School for six years. His students say there’s never a dull moment in Mr. King’s class, also known as “The Kingdom.” For him, the decision to go into education came easy. King says, “I come from a family filled with teachers, so educating is in my blood.”
Watch the news report & read the article: /node/1771
—————
5) Man discovers passion for education, finds next career
You never know where you’re going to find your next career. For Craven Community College student Cameron Bates, his discovery came when he began volunteering at a child-care center where his daughter was enrolled. It was there that the 35-year-old married father of three discovered a love for working with children and mentoring them. Now, with the help of Craven, Bates knows where he hopes to make a difference for his family and for his community. “Everybody wants the best for their children,” he said recently. “In the college’s Early Childhood Education program, we prepare children to be elementary school students. We take that energy and try to focus that on the children as individuals.” Read the article: /node/1801
—————
6) Kidsfirst leads the pack in boosting men in ECE in New Zealand
Men make up just 1.6 percent of New Zealand’s early childhood workforce, one of the worst male participation rates in the western world – but the South Island’s largest kindergarten provider is taking a strong stance in addressing this statistic, and enriching the early childhood education environment with a greater gender balance. Kidsfirst Kindergartens was praised for its ongoing support and commitment to recruiting men into early childhood education at the recent Men in Early Childhood Education Summit in Auckland. President of ECMENz, Russell Ballantyne, says Kidsfirst walks its talk in promoting its equal opportunities programme and the support it provides for male teachers. /node/1803
—————
7) Federal Law Title IX covers more than sports
Ask someone about Title IX and he or she is likely to tell you that it has to do with girls and sports. Ask many educators this question, and you are likely to receive a similar (but far windier) answer.
Title IX was legislation passed in 1972 that reads: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal assistance.”
It is not just about sports. Read this opinion: /node/1806
—————
8) Falsely accused teacher struggles to cope
A Quebec elementary school gym teacher says he is struggling to rebuild his life after having been falsely accused of sexual touching. A rumour began circulating at Henri Fournier’s school in February 2008 involving 19 girls between the ages of eight and 13 who accused him of inappropriately touching girls, sometimes in front of other students. Officials at Notre Dame de l’Assomption Elementary School in Chateauguay, south of Montreal, took the allegations seriously and suspended Fournier without pay. He was eventually arrested on 34 charges of sexual touching and spent a week in custody. The case gained a great deal of media attention. But 20 months later, Fournier — the only male teacher at the school — was cleared on all charges. Read the story: /node/1808
—————
9) More men wanted for childcare jobs in Australia
Trent Tootell may be the minority in his chosen career but he has made a difference in children’s lives. Mr Tootell is completing a Diploma of Children’s Services while working at the Bundaberg’s City Y Childcare Centre. Women generally dominate in his field, with men scarce in the childcare industry. Mr Tootell has worked in the industry for five years and said a careers teacher prompted him into the profession after he completed a personality survey. Read the story: /node/1810
—————
10) 58% rise in Welsh male graduates opting for teaching
The council said figures from the university recruitment service Ucas showed a 58% rise in Welsh male graduates opting for teaching, with 360 applying for a teaching course in February 2010, against the previous figure of 226. The latest figures follow concern from GTCW at the end of last year that male teacher numbers were at a five-year low. The number of male primary teachers in Wales in December 2009 was 2,140, compared to 11,807 women. Go to the website: /node/1812
—————
ABOUT MenTEACH: This email Newsletter has been distributed by MenTeach – a clearinghouse with a mission to increase the percentage of men teaching.
Forward Our Message – be sure to forward this message to anyone you think might be interested in teaching children.
JOIN or DONATE to MenTeach today – support our mission to increase the number of men teachers. https://www.menteach.org/join_or_donate
VOLUNTEER for MenTeach – help make a difference by volunteering with MenTeach. We could use help moderating forums, posting articles that you find, updating the bibliography, hosting a group in your region, do some research about the percentages in your state, get involved and make some new friends. Drop us a line to let us know what you’d like to do.
E-LETTER POLICY FOR INCLUSION: MenTeach’s monthly e-letter includes news/resources/events that are relevant to those interested and supporting the education, support and care of children and families and who want qualified men teaching children.
To be Removed From the List
Go to this link and manage your account: