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More Men in ECE?
April 2, 2021
Remember this maxim: When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
-Wayne Dyer
-Wayne Dyer
“I currently employ six men in different capacities,” writes Cecilia Scott-Croff in an article that forms the basis of an Exchange Reflections, “Supporting Men in ECE.”
“The first is a master’s-level early childhood educator and an artist, and he has been able to bring his eclectic teaching style and fine arts background into the classroom...The second is our bookkeeper...The third is a teacher’s assistant who originally joined us as part of the federal work study program....The fourth is a student working alongside senior management while he pursues a degree in social work and finance.
The center also hires teaching artists, two who have been with our program for many years. Additionally we bring in two to three male students as federal work study employees. Through this endeavor we actively seek to balance the diverse needs of children.”
“The low participation of men in early education is a topic that fascinates me,”
Scott-Croff explains, “and I decided to write this article as a challenge to myself.”
An article on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website states:
“According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), fewer than 3 percent of preschool and kindergarten teachers are men—and this figure has not changed substantially in recent decades (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 1995).”
The Exchange Reflections is designed to support discussion on the role of men in ECE, explore multiple challenges (including biases and stereotypes) that might be keeping men out of the field, and offer creative solutions and insights into ways to encourage more participation.
“The first is a master’s-level early childhood educator and an artist, and he has been able to bring his eclectic teaching style and fine arts background into the classroom...The second is our bookkeeper...The third is a teacher’s assistant who originally joined us as part of the federal work study program....The fourth is a student working alongside senior management while he pursues a degree in social work and finance.
The center also hires teaching artists, two who have been with our program for many years. Additionally we bring in two to three male students as federal work study employees. Through this endeavor we actively seek to balance the diverse needs of children.”
“The low participation of men in early education is a topic that fascinates me,”
Scott-Croff explains, “and I decided to write this article as a challenge to myself.”
An article on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website states:
“According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), fewer than 3 percent of preschool and kindergarten teachers are men—and this figure has not changed substantially in recent decades (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 1995).”
The Exchange Reflections is designed to support discussion on the role of men in ECE, explore multiple challenges (including biases and stereotypes) that might be keeping men out of the field, and offer creative solutions and insights into ways to encourage more participation.
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Comments (6)
Displaying All 6 CommentsDimensions
Lincoln, NE, United States
Judith,
Yes! The field of early childhood needs the respect it deserves. We are doing such great work!
-Tiffany at Exchange
Dimensions
Lincoln, NE, United States
Charles,
Thank you for the comment!
-Tiffany at Exchange
Dimensions
Lincoln, NE, United States
Yes! thank you for the comment.
-Tiffany at Exchange
Self employed
Dhaka, Bangladesh
A good initiative indeed! We need to be careful from the very beginning about not to induce any gender bias in children.
Town & Country Early Learning Center
Meriden, CT, United States
As an ECE employer, I would love to hire men to work in our early learning center. I think it would be valuable to young children to see a positive male role model in our center. Unfortunately, I think one of the reasons we're unable to attract men to our field is the low wages we are able to offer to our employees. We simply don't offer wages that would allow one to provide for him/her/them selves never mind providing for a family. Until the federal government begins to respect the field of early childhood, realize the impact we have on the nation's economy, and invest dollars to support providers, we're going to continue to struggle to hire high quality staff, both men and women. If childcare is essential, put your money where your mouth is!
United States
Biases and stereotypes keep caring men out of childcare because of too many "Karens" complain to daycare owners to keep those "men" from even bringing their own children to a center.
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