Why are male teachers important in early year’s education?
Early year’s education is one of the most critical points in a child’s learning and is a time when they will develop a range of skills which will be required throughout not only their school life but into adulthood. It is a vital time, and their early experiences at school will mould children. It is therefore disappointing how few male teachers there are in early year’s education. Estimates suggest that only around 2% of teachers globally are in this group are male. As one of the leading kindergartens in Bangkok, we recognise the importance of children being exposed to a variety of different experiences, and this includes different gender teachers. We actively encourage male teachers to apply for posts at our school and firmly believe that it helps students to receive a balanced education. Male representation and having positive male role models whom students can look up to is essential and helps to quash many of the unfounded stereotypes. Why don’t male teachers choose to go into primary education? Around 38% of teachers in secondary schools in the UK are male, and this is a trend which is more or less the same in developed countries. However, in the UK, where more teachers are in primary education, the figure is only around 15%. There is a general misconception and archaic view that females make better early years teachers because of their “maternal instinct”. However, there is little evidence to support the notion, and it merely presents another barrier that male teachers have to overcome. There is certainly a stigma attached to men working in early year’s education. Old-fashioned views that men in paid childcare are not “real” men still exist, especially in some parts of Asia and Africa. Childcare is still very much viewed as a “women’s role”, and this is something that needs to be overcome to break down much of the stigma. In some schools, women are perceived to be doing a “good job” and to introduce a male into the environment would “upset the applecart”. These are all unhelpful attitudes and barriers that need to be broken down. Sadly, the most serious and shameful attitude that is associated with men working in early years education is the association with paedophilia. While this is indeed shocking, there is nothing to suggest that male teachers have any association with this. Indeed, the assumption that all females are safe to be left with children is naïve. In reality, the correct checks need to be conducted on all teachers regardless of their gender. Pay scales It is sadly true and something which was highlighted by Farquhar, Cablk, Bucking, Butler & Ballantyne (2006) that primary school teachers are paid less than their counterparts in secondary school. With men still perceived in many cultures as being the primary breadwinner in a household, these low salaries may dissuade teachers from moving into this area and opting for secondary education for the obvious financial benefits. Training in early year’s international schools Many international schools, including kindergartens in Bangkok, have highly trained teachers, many of whom have trained in the UK, prior to coming to the Kingdom. While trends are changing, in the past, during their early training, few teachers will have been exposed to early years schooling and unless they had a passion for it and would have little to encourage them into this area. It is a shame, especially as many schools such as our own are actively seeking male teachers to address the imbalance. It means that there are perhaps more opportunities than male teachers realise and definitely less competition. Addressing the imbalance In schools around the world and spanning all age groups, male teachers are viewed as having a positive influence in classrooms. They are often role-models for many students where the male parent may not be present due to social or economic reasons. Male teachers, particular amongst younger students, can almost become a father-like figure and a person who can be trusted. Research was conducted in New Zealand (Farquhar et al. 2012) which showed that having a male role model was essential for young male students as they learnt about “being a man” and the social responsibilities associated with this. Likewise, young girls needed to learn how to relate to males, with many reportedly shy in male company at the beginning. The study suggested that why a lack of male influence impacted on both males and females, it was younger males who were most adversely affected. Farquhar et al.’s (2012) theory was supported by McNaughton and Newman (2001). They again found that male teachers had a pivotal role to play when it came to introducing boys to the theory of masculinity. In a politically correct world, this is something that can be sidestepped and ignored, but it is something that can be missing from homes and has a detrimental effect on the rest of the family. Male teachers do interact with students differently, and this is something which should be encouraged and not vilified. Breaking down stereotypes As we touched upon above, male teachers have a different approach to teaching, and this includes elements of play. In families without a positive male influence, it is easy for stereotypes to exist – ones which are usually inaccurate and outdated. To breakdown these harmful stereotypes, we need students to see what male teachers do first hand, appreciating and accepting the role that they play. Stereotypes can be detrimental in adult life, so dismissing them early is crucial. Academic Experience In any educational establishment, there always needs to be a gender balance, and this should be something that begins in early year’s schooling and in a child’s main formative years. It is widely accepted that boys and girls learn differently, something which is more apparent in these formative years. Boys tend to be a little more dominant and boisterous something that often, male teachers encourage or at the very least, accept. However, female teachers often try to stop the behaviour and encourage “nice” play. Peeters (2007) suggested that in most
