Why we need men in Early Childhood Education

Most days I look forward to work with young kids and their families. That’s a lot more than I can say for a lot of other jobs I’ve held.

I also believe I bring skill, experience, passion and a much- needed sense of humor to early education. And if you really want to make a difference in this too-often mean old world, I believe that , in the words of Marianne Williamson,

“There is no single effort more radical in its potential for saving the world than a transformation of the way we raise our children.”

venceremos,
Kitt Cox
Gloucester, Massachusetts, US

Here is a collection of references I have found. Forgive the messy format, it is crude but usually I am the only one using it, but it may give you some documents to chase down.
I don’t know how to attach a document so here it is cut and pasted.
References
Research studies
• Bradley, J. G. (2000). Male elementary teacher candidates: A narrative perspective on
their initial career choice. McGill Journal of Education 35(2), 155-172.

Carrington, B. (2002). A quintessentially feminine domain? Student teachers’
constructions of primary teaching as a career. Educational Studies, 28(3), 287-
303.

• Cooney, M. H., & Bittner, M. T. (2001). Men in early childhood education: Their
emergent issues. Early Childhood Education Journal, 8(29), 77-82.

• DeCorse, C. J. B. & Vogtle, S. P. (1997). In a complex voice: The contradictions of male
elementary teachers’ career choice and professional identity. Journal of Teacher
Education, 48(1), 37-46.

• Hebert, T. P. (2000). Gifted males pursuing careers in elementary education: Factors that
influence a belief in self. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 24(1), 7-45.

Gamble nR. J., & Wilkins, J. (1997). Beyond tradition: Where are the men in elementary
education? Contemporary Education, 68(3), 1187-1193.

• Johnston, J., McKeown, E. & McEwen, A. (1999). Choosing primary teaching as a
career: The perspectives of males and females in training. Journal of Education
for Teaching, 25(1), 55-64.

Klecker, B. M. (1999). Male elementary school teachers’ ratings of job satisfaction by
years of teaching experience. Education, 119(3), 504-513.

• Oyler, C., Jennings, G. T., & Lozada, P. (2001). Silenced gender: The construction of a
male primary educator. Teaching and Teacher Education, 17, 367-379.

• Skelton, C. (2003). Male primary teachers and perceptions of masculinity. Educational
Review, 55(2), 195-209.

Sumsion, J. (2000). Negotiating otherness: A male early childhood educator’s gender
positioning. International Journal of Early Years Education, 8(2), 129-140.

Thornton, M. (1999). Reducing wastage among men student teachers in primary courses:
A male club approach. Journal of Education for Teaching, 25(1), 41-53.

• Vogt, F. (2002). A caring teacher: Explorations into primary school teachers’
professional identity and ethic of care. Gender and Education 14(3), 251-264.

• Wilkins, J. & Gamble, R. J. (2000). An examination of gender differences among
teachers in Jamaican schools. Multicultural Education, 7(4), 18-20.

Possible
Carrington, B. & Skelton, C. (2003). Re-thinking ‘role models’: Equal opportunities in
teacher recruitment in England and Wales. Journal of Educational Policy, 18(3),
253-265.

Find
King, J. R. (1998). Uncommon caring: Learning from men who teach young children.
New York; Teachers College Press.

Men, Pre-service Training and the Implications for Continuing Professional Development.
Author(s): Thornton, Mary
Source: Journal of In-service Education v27 n3 p477-90 2001
Publication Year: 2001

Title: Primary School Teachers’ Careers in England and Wales: The Relationship Between Gender, Role, Position and Promotion Aspirations.
Author(s): Thornton, Mary; Bricheno, Pat
Source: Pedagogy, Culture and Society v8 n2 p187-206 2000
Publication Year: 2000
ISSN: 14681366

Title: A Few Good Men.
Author(s): Vail, Kathleen
Source: American School Board Journal v186 n10 p28-30 Oct 1999
Publication Year: 1999
ISSN: 00030953

Title: Choosing To Teach: Perceptions of Male Preservice Teachers in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
Author(s): Stroud, James C.; Smith, Lawrence L.; Ealy, Lenore T.; Hurst, Rosemary
Source: Early Child Development and Care v163 p49-60 Aug 2000
Publication Year: 2000
ISSN: 03004430

Title: Gender and Cohort Differences in University Students’ Decisions To Become Elementary Teacher Education Majors.
Author(s): Montecinos, Carmen; Nielsen, Lynne E.
Source: Journal of Teacher Education v48 n1 p47-54 Jan-Feb 1997
Publication Year: 1997
ISSN: 00224871

Title: The Experience of Students in a Gender Minority in Courses at a College of Higher and Further Education.
Author(s): Thurtle, Val; Hammond, Shaun; Jennings, Paul
Source: Journal of Vocational Education and Training: The Vocational Aspect of Education v50 n4 p629-46 1998
Publication Year: 1998
ISSN: 13636820
Descriptors: *Nontraditional Occupations; *Preservice Teacher Education; *Sex Stereotypes; *Vocational Education; Early Childhood Education; Engineering; Females; Higher Education; Males; Motor Vehicles; Postsecondary Education; Technical Institutes
Abstract: Interviews with 10 men studying early childhood education and 8 women in motor-vehicle engineering, areas in which they were gender minorities, revealed intimidating behaviors and stereotypes preventing their full participation. Difficulties also arose in workshops and job placements. (SK)
Language: English
Clearinghouse: Adult, Career, and Vocational Education (CE534118)
Number of Pages: 18
Publication Type: Journal Article (080)
Reports – Research/Technical (143)
Journal Code: CIJOCT1999
Entry Month: 199910
ERIC Number: EJ580934
Persistent link to this record: http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&an=EJ580934

Other Articles
Cohen, D. (1992). Why there are so few male teachers in early grades. Education Digest,
57(6), 11-13.

Lawson, J. (2004, January/February). Male teachers in elementary schools. Athens
Parent, 13-15.

Mills, M. (2004). Male teachers, homophobia, misogyny and teacher education. Teaching
Education, 15(1), 27-39.

Methods

Mason, ,J. (2002). Qualitative researching. London: Sage.

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.

Too Old?

Galbraith, M. (1992). Understanding career choices of men in elementary education.
Journal of Educational Research, 85(4), 246-253.

Hi Andy….just read about your thesis…sounds very interesting!! I, too have wondered what to do about attracting more males to early childhood teaching and why men feel inclined to go into HS or college teaching rather than elementary.
Some background……I taught Elementary School for 33 years in NYState….early in the 1970’s, I began teaching 4th grade, later in mid 80’s went to 2nd grade, and then in 1988-2004 taught kindergarten! Of all the grade levels, kindergarten was so awesome!!! It was such an exciting career and I really enjoyed it! Over the years, I had many student teachers….but never a male! I am currently supervising Student Teachers out here at ASU and have succeeded in encouraging 1 male to get into kindergarten teaching and he reports that he likes it a lot.
Contact me if you want more information or need someone to interview…more than willing to help.

David George
Phoenix, AZ
nevadapines@cox.net

Fantastic!

I think it would be good to make this a ongoing list that we keep adding to!

Regards,

Bryan