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Some Letters
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Another Retreat In Hawaii
(03/05) http://www.journal.naeyc.org/btj/200211/MenGather.pdf.
This brief includes a page
entitled "How to Organize a Retreat for Men" that helped us a lot. We
had a lot of activities planned just in case we needed them, but we
were very glad we built a lot of relaxing networking time in. We stuck to a one day event this
first time out (as suggested in the NAEYC bulletin), but there seemed
to be a solid consensus in the retreat evaluations that the next time
out should include an overnight stay so we can have time to really dig
in on some of the more meaty topics and issues. Following the interests of our
participants is what really seemed to make it all work. The
evaluations said the guys really appreciated that. We did a lot
of icebreaker and sharing activities so the guys could share stories
and get to know one another. Attendee evaluations were filled
with descriptive words like " amazing," "rejuvenating," and "healing,"
and most importantly “We have got to do this again and soon!” Men Who Teach Conference This
Fall (03/05) Our intentions are to create
some community and to give support to men who are teaching young
children. We are also reaching out to university ed. programs to
try and support young men who are presently considering teaching young
children as a career. I am open to any and all advice. Thanks, Switching careers from journalism to teaching (11/04) My name is Colin Lovett and I am a 36 year old man who is switching careers to go into elementary education. I have been a journalist for 15 years and decided this was a good time to make a change. Teaching kids has always been something I've wanted to do, and after much internal debate, I decided to take the leap. I am currently enrolled in a Masters of Elementary Education program at George Washington University in DC. Coming to the decision to teach younger kids was not easy. I had to go through all of the usual concerns regarding the relatively low pay that teachers make. But I also had to struggle with stereotypes and the possibility that I will be in a profession where my motives might be viewed suspiciously. What helped me make up my mind was the fact that, in addition to believing that I will be very good at the academic aspects of teaching, I can bring a new perspective to the children and be a positive male role model. This is something that I believe is seriously lacking in the younger grades. I know how important I am in the lives of my two boys, ages 6 and 8. I found out about MenTeach first while I was trying to make my decision on elementary education. I found your site very useful and it did help in my decision making process. I ordered the book because I am writing a research paper on the recruitment of male elementary school teachers. It is amazing how little there is out there despite many education leaders professing a great desire to attract more men. Many seem to be paying only lip service to the idea, possible because they cannot get their heads around the idea that men can also be discriminated against. I think that if only 9% of high school teachers were female, there would be a very large, well publicized campaign complete with grants and other incentives to rectify the situation. I am hoping the situation changes for men, and I hope that I will be part of that change. The kids need us. Sincerely, Colin Lovett High school boys to who work with young children (10/04) I am a 28 male director/teacher of an innovative preschool in Alameda, CA: HOME Sweet HOME. I have recently realized that my vision of work in the world involves increasing the amount of men in early childhood/elementary education and generally supporting the men who work in the field, as well as fathers of young children. Our school and nonprofit organiztion, Alternatives in Action, is currently creating a model of "multigenerational-care" to disseminate to other preschools and to high schools. We train high school students interested in working with young children (and possibly entering the field) in Early Child Development, and provide a volunteer/internship program at our preschool. We are connected to a charter high school, so we have High School volunteers working with us throughout the day. This has a profound impact on the adolescents, staff, and children, but i am particularly noticing an social/emotional developmental impact on the male adolescents. I also believe this model could directly support an increase in males in the field by creating opportunities for high school boys to see teaching young children as a rewarding and feasable professsion. I would love to talk to you more about your work and other things going on in the Bay Area supporting men in the early care and education field. I am excited and looking forward to connecting with more people with similar committments in their work! Fell free to call me if you have any questions. Nick Challed A man volunteering with young children (10/04) I have been volunteering for the last four years at a suburban public school in Missouri in the preschool and a couple of Kindergartens. I read in the newspaper about a grandfatherly type, mentor, accused of abusing some kids. Well, I too am 65 and will be a grandfather in 7 weeks or so but I am not this man and I can not even imagine doing something like he did. I have postponed starting volunteering this year while I find out more about the abuse accusation problem. I am a helper. I wash desks, run errands and, I hope, give the teachers more time to teach. I asked the teachers about helping with some kids who appeared to be behind. I quit high school so my education is limited but I do know my ABC's and 123's. We tried with a few and the teacher thought it worked. But sometimes the kids get too close. Like the little girl in preschool who wanted to give me a Goodbye kiss. I sidestepped her but about a month later I was down on one knee zipping up a kid's coat when she snuck up behind me and kissed me on the cheek and was gone. I considered this a rare, precious gift. But what might this have looked like to some parent? And what trouble could come out of it? I have tried to avoid it, but sometimes a high five just isn't enough and they have to give you a hug. So I stick my arms out and away and hope for the best. I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer six years ago and this form of therapy is just what I needed. You can't be around these guys and not smile a lot. The consequences of an accusation are too great to ignore. But how many volunteers are out there who won't try because of this? If anyone has any advice or a suggestion my email address is: Mr. Tony Discouragement in finding work (9/04) I live about 20 miles away from Sheboygan. I just received an offer from The Sylvan Leaning center, but the pay is only $9.00 an hour and 2 hours a day. I have signed up to substitute in Sheboygan, but still not one call. The pay to Sub is $75 a day or maybe over $50 take home after taxes. I have to E-mail everyday and wait for a reply and E-mail back again saying that I am going to work. I have to admit I am very disenchanted with the teaching thing and now understand why there are few men. I went to school for four years and have over $20,000 in student loans for this. I now have signed up for seminars that will set me back more dollars. Please give me some encouragement. Milwaukee just terminated over 200 teachers and I was told don't bother applying unless you live in Milwaukee. My local Cosco is offering a starting wage of up to $14 an hour. Alfred Southall Trying to find a job (09/04) My name is Jeff Stix and I came across your website after seeing an AP article about your organization in my local paper last Sunday. In June of 2003, I was granted a license by the state of Wisconsin, and had about 3-4 interviews last summer without any success. I then went on to substitute teach last year, figuring that experience would propel me toward a teaching job this year. However, I have had only one interview, having to now substitute for another year. At first, I thought maybe my qualifications weren't up to par, but looking at my record, I've done volunteer work, my grades were good (Dean's list for 3 semesters), and I have experience through student and substitute teaching. Looking at what your website has to say, maybe there is an unfair divide in my area, shutting me out of teaching jobs. What I need is a way to break through into the teaching fraternity. Living in southeast Wisconsin, I also have Lake County, Illinois across my border. There should be ample opportunities for me, but there isn't simply any there. I also applied for jobs in North Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada this year, but nothing was available as well. If you could give me any suggestions, it would be appreciated. Thank you for your time in advance. Jeff Stix Questions and Answers about getting a job after graduation (07/04) Hi my name is Matt, and I am probably a year and a half away from getting my degree in Elementary Education. I attend Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and I am just wondering is there going to be a need for male Elementary Education teachers. I am just worried that I will have a degree and never have a job. My other concern is do teachers make enough to live on, I know I can't have a Ferrari and money is not why I got into the teaching field anyway, but it would be nice to be some what financially secure. Thanks, M.K.
Matt, Depending on where you want to live and what you want to do, my answer is yes, there are plenty of jobs for elementary school teachers out there. In some school districts in some states there are some saturated areas. The competition can be fierce. But if you are willing to teach in the inner city or in the real rural areas, you can get a job pretty easily. Take Oregon for example. The competition for elementary school teaching positions in Beaverton (where NIKE is located) is great, but in Portland itself it is not so great. In the low populated areas east of the Cascade Mountains some jobs go unfilled because nobody wants to live and teach in the boonies. You may find suburbs that have lots of opening but my word of advice is if you are not making headway in the choice school districts consider the inner city or rural areas. Bruce Sheppard EI/ECSE Specialist Some schools have more men (07/04) I am a second-grade teacher at Rosa Parks public elementary school in San Diego. I'm in the process of finishing up my MA in Education and one of my final projects is figure out why there is a larger than normal percentage of male teachers at my school. My advisor suggested that I read "Real Men or Real Teachers." I think MenTeach is mentioned in the book. I put 'men in child care & elementary education' (from the criticial reviews on the back cover) in google and the website came up. I looked at the website a fair amount today and I think it is laid out clearly and interestingly. The information in the news section is timely and helpful. If you are the one responsible for this website, thank you very much for coming up with the idea and the work you do to maintain it. I know it takes a lot of time and energy. I interviewed Paul Sargent today and we are going to have further conversations next week. It amazingly convienent to have Mr. Sargent at the same university I'm attending. My school belongs to a teaching/education partnership called The City Heights Educational Collaborative. If you'd like more info: http://www.pricecharities.com/CHI_education.shtml My school: http://parks.sandi.net/ Thanks for your interest, Bob Ford From a career in investment to a career in investing in children (05/04) I work in the field of socially responsible investing, but took some time off to teach pre-school as well as get certification (preschool/elementary and special ed) and an M.A. in teaching. Now I teach four year-olds one day a week in a Head Start program here in New York City, while I continue in the socially responsible investing field. Found I am usually the only guy teaching at this level. But I love it. I did get considerable parent resistance to a male teacher at first when I had my own class in a Catholic preschool for 1 1/2 years. But eventually won them over. Paul Being a male teacher can be isolating (05/04) I'm writing because I'm intrigued by your site and wonder what your background is, why the site and why your commitment to prompting men to teach. I am a male, 49, finishing an MAT in Early Childhood Education at National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. I left a 25-year career as an executive in business; I am embarking on an adventure in a new profession which should have begun 25 years ago when I contemplated being a teacher but chose business instead; probably for the all the bone-headed reasons men to this day wouldn't seriously contemplate teaching young children. I have done this on my own. There's little or no interest in, or enthusiasm for, the fact that I am a man going into teaching youngsters (I will have an Illinois 2004 certificate, allowing me only to teach through 3rd grade, but that's exactly what I wanted) from the women around me, except my wife. And I am surrounded by women. Everyone in the ECE program at Louis is female, 99 percent of the students are female and 99 percent of the teachers I have encountered in elementary schools are female, until you get above third grade, and then you might run into one or two men. It's sad, in terms of how pathetically undiversified the teaching resource is that is delivered to young children, and how harmful and hampering it is for children to never have exposure to men in school through at least age 8, except perhaps for a Physical Education teacher or a custodian. But nothing's changed. I love women generally, but being around them all day long once I start to teach is going to be a challenge, in terms of having no diversification in my own professional developmental experience. I will have to be my own best friend. Best regards. Becoming a teacher to make a difference in the lives of our children.. (3/04) Thanks for taking time out of your day today to take my call and discuss the plans I have to teach Elementary Education here in Greenville South Carolina. As you know, the family structure is different today than 20-25 years ago when boys and girls had more of a chance to have a male authority in their lives. Now I hear frequently of my son's peers in the 5th grade where their father lives in another state or doesn't spend much time with them. The story of the girl in the 2nd grade that grabbed my heart in the lunch room where she showed me she was improving on her reading after I worked with her was profound and still sticks with me til this day. I have been in the corporate world and have worked for a large corporation for the last 21 years. While the past 21 years has afforded me the opportunity to become debt free now it's time for me to start making a difference in the lives of our future leaders which are our children today. I am looking forward to reading your book on "The Importance of Male teachers." As I mentioned during our call earlier today I have already found your website to be encouraging as I start my education to start teaching here in Greenville. Thanks again for your time. If I can contribute in any way to encourage more male teachers feel free to lean on me at any time. Gary C. Link My brother's career. (3/04) I am a student at Maryville College in Maryville, TN. I am currently in a seminar class entirely devoted to writing one research paper. My section's subtopic is Gender and Education, and thus we were to choose a topic related to Gender and Education. Many people chose the effects of Title IX, gender bias in the classroom, etc., but I became more interested in the educator's perspective. My brother is studying elementary education at the University of Tennessee, and he often has funny stories about all the girls in his classes. With this thought in mind and doing some brief research, I narrowed my topic for class to a discussion of the lack of and need for male teachers, particularly in elementary education (though I will be addressing secondary education as well). Through a Google search, I came across a local news station's website with a page about male mentors ( http://www.wndu.com/news/malementors/ ). This article cited menteach.org, and I hence followed the link. My fiancŽ and I are entering youth ministry in the Church of God (Cleveland), so I too have a strong interest in young people and the influences in their lives. Your site is wonderful, and I appreciate your efforts to encourage more men to enter the teaching field. Looking back over my middle and high school careers, I must confess that the best teachers I ever had were men. Your site has proved quite helpful in my research, and I'm looking forward to reading the books. When I finish with them at the end of the semester, I'm hoping to give them to my brother for his birthday in June. I know he'll love them. Thanks again, Mary Beth Caldwell A career to love. (2/04) First I wanted to thank you for all of your work as an advocate for men in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE). I am a 22 year old man, and have just recently started a new position as the lead teacher for a pre-k classroom. I have never had a job that has afforded me such joy all day long and I am grateful everyday that I have the opportunity to bring love and caring to the lives of the children in my care. As long as I have been working in this field I have been aware of the stigma surrounding men in child care. Recently, however, I have been feeling the effects a little more strongly as I try to establish my place in a young classroom. I stumbled upon your website while searching around for resources on the NAEYC site and it was just the reassurance I needed that men do indeed work and belong in ECE. So, thank you again. Kyle Shimamoto Men that work with young children gathering in Australia. (1/04) Hi there, I've been really interested in the discussion about men's involvement in working with young children. I've been in this area for 13 years and have worked with 0 -5 year olds all that time. I currently work in a project funded by the Van Leer Foundation (Holland) that is working alongside staff in family-based services e.g child care, to promote the involvement of fathers and father figures. In Australia, the current involvement of men working in EC is less than 1 percent. It's not going to change in a hurry. My work recognises the traditional involvement of women (as staff and mothers) in child care services, but is advocating for positive change through father and father figure involvement. It's about balance. Fathers do make a difference and are playing a greater role in families. Early childhood services do not reflect these societal changes. Another part of the work is a Males in Early Childhood Network Group that I have established in my local area. We have been meeting monthly since November 2002. It's not a 'committee' and it's not a 'whine session', the group is about mentoring with students and experienced guys, it's about devising strategies in dealing with issues e.g. child protection. It's also about getting the guys to think as MEN and the strengths they bring as men to working with young children. Contact me personally if you would like a copy of the meeting reports. These guys are committed and professional, last meeting on the 8th December, 18 guys turned up. (Which is quite large, put into the context that we are in a regional area, about 170 kilometres North of Sydney, predominantly a steel making and coal mining area.) What I have found from the exercises I do with these guys and the discussions we have is that one of the major reasons they get into the field is that they want to make a positive difference for kids (as a male role model), and that they have had their own positive male influence e.g. father, uncle, teacher, coach, etc. that perhaps sparked this interest in wanting to carry it on. They have mentioned money and low prestige, but it's not the main issue. Concerns around being vulnerable to being accused of abusing children is the major reason they want to get out. Men, in general, in Australia, are not made to feel welcome in child care. The money here isn't too bad. If you have a Degree and are a Director of a centre, you start on about $36,000 and automatically go up 11 increments to about $58,000. You could get more in other career areas, but it's not too bad. How does this compare with other countries? If the wages I've mentioned above are high, then maybe the argument about low pay isn't the only barrier to men working with young children. I realise this is a rather simplistic view, based on anecdotal evidence. There are still a lot of questions I'd like to further explore. Thank-you brothers (and sisters). Craig d'Arcy Soon to start my new career as a teacher. (12/03) I believe I found MenTeach during some of my internet searching, when I was in the process of deciding to change careers and pursue teaching. I saved your link into my Favorites, so I could refer back to it in the future. Well, almost a year has past and I'm on the last stretch of my credential program. In a few months, I will begin the student teaching portion of my program here in California. I was doing a little "house cleaning" in my Favorites the other day and came across the MenTeach link again and decided to purchase your books. I'm in my mid-thirties and have spent most of my working years in the field of human resources and payroll, but have always had the desire to pursue a career in teaching and work with children. After a lot of soul searching and much support from my immediate family and friends, I decided to take the leap and pursue my dream. It's been a lot of hard work and sacrifice...especially with the unpaid student teaching portion coming up...but I know in my heart that it is the right move for me. My plans are to become an elementary school teacher in our public school system. Anyway, I am very looking forward to receiving the books and learning more about your organization. Thanks, There should be scholarships for men entering teaching. (12/03) I read, on your website, an
article pertaining to the low percentage of male elementary school
teachers. And while the article did address the need for more male
teachers at the k-5 level it did not seem to offer any practical
solutions, such as specific grants or scholarships, to financially
enable young men to become teachers at this level. Sincerely, How did I get a job as an elementary school teacher? (12/03) I am a male teacher in an elementary school in a midwestern state. In fact, I am the only male elementary teacher in a school district with 10 elementary schools. How did I get the job? My children attend the school. I got to know the principal and when there was an opening she asked if I would be interested in applying. I jumped at the opportunity and got the job. Before this happened, I had applied for elementary teaching jobs everywhere. (I have taught high school and junior high.) With all the talk about needing men in the elementary, I found there was no way I was ever going to be hired. I had a couple token interviews and I never got a elementary teaching job. Every time I interviewed, I would always follow up on who was selected. Always a woman and in most cases a woman who had less experience teaching than I did. I think that it is not that men don't want to teach in the elementary schools, (they are applying) they are just not getting hired or they are not getting an interview. I think there is a full blown case of discrimination against men in the elementary grades. Men think differently when it comes to many things and my experience has taught me that many times my thinking is "wrong" because it's not how a woman thinks about the situation or issue. I get a load of pressure. My students do extremely well academically, they have cultivated a love for learning, and what every parent loves to hear-They absolutely LOVE to come to school everyday. I work with about 20 women and they are great to work with but I also get pressure from my principal because my classroom management is not perfect. I'm still learning, but I will admit my classroom management is much better than some of the teachers I have observed (at other schools). My classroom is "ALIVE" and the room is filled with practical, functional stuff which the children love. I really believe, from my experiences, although the call for more men in the elementary goes out - when it's answered the callers ears go deaf. I really like my job and I would hope this letter would never be misinterpreted. If anyone would like to call me
or contact me via e-mail, I would be open to it. I really do think
there is a problem out there concerning men not given an opportunity in
the elementary. I would like to be an advocate for more men being hired
because I know, firsthand, how rewarding and enjoyable the profession
is. I also know how difficult it is to get a job in elementary. Working with young children (11/03) There is nothing cooler than walking into the lunchroom and have 60 kindergarten kids all turn their heads toward me and yell, "Hi Steve"; this after dressing up like Johnny Apple seed, where I read a book and took the kids outside to plant their own trees. Of course, I had to adlib, it's my nature. I brought in a tiny pumpkin and a tiny gourd, each with a face drawn on them, and each with an earring. They were my garden friends; the gourd was a pumpkin wanna be. "But that's ok, right kids? We are all different and we are all friends..." The entire kindergarten staff had to retreat to the hallway. Then they brought in the superintendent and his office staff. The kids were oblivious to the visitors and were totally focused on trying to figure out how I could actually be two different people. It was really fun! Steve Weber Student in college (10/03) Fairmont State College is a small college in Fairmont, West Virginia. It is said to have one of the best education programs in the region. Fairmont State College used to be a teacher's college. I chose to go into elementary education because I have a way with getting kids to like me. Working with kids also gives me a great sense of pride, more pride than anything I have ever done. I also beleive that teaching elementary is the best stage of teaching. If I can teach a kid how to read or add and subtract, then I believe I have taught them something that they can use forever. An elementary teacher can also make their classroom environment as positive as they want it to be. I grew up without my dad around. I know there are a lot of kids that don't have their dads around too. If I can be a male role model for my students, then that would be the best satisfaction ever for me. I volunteer at the local elementary school on Fridays that I don't have classes and I work with a second grader that doesn't have his dad in the household. On my first meeting, his teacher said that he would not cooperate with any of his teachers, which were all female. Within an hour of working with him, I had gotten him to know his story and know his vocabulary words. I just made it fun for him. It wasn't even work for me, I believe that he just needed attention, which I gave him. I am only 19 years old, but I believe that I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life. Nathan Forman Doctoral Student (8/03) Currently I'm finishing my
doctoral studies at the University of Florida in educational psychology
but up until I began my studies here I taught in the elementary
schools, as both a third grade teacher and Title I resource teacher,
for seven years. I found your website since (a)
there seems to be a shortage of academic articles on the subject and
(b) I resorted to an internet search on Yahoo and your site came up
right away. In another letter: There have been a few articles in various newspapers that followed up on the recent NEA survey regarding the lack of diversity in the teaching force (gender included). One particular op-ed piece in Boston suggested that more men should be in the lower grades to help boys progress in reading and writing. This seems to be a reasonable enough thought on the surface -- however she didn't end there. Her idea was that a male teacher would inspire her boy to read and write more so that he could eventually become a doctor or lawyer. Ironically, she didn't mention
the possiblity of her son becoming inspired to be an elementary
teacher! I felt that there was a subtle message suggesting that 'other
people's boys' should teach in the elementary....'but not mine'.
Perhaps I'm looking too deeply into it. I think the discussion list on
your site may be a great way to vent these ideas. I think the perspective of stereotypes, liability, and status might be a good starting point. Interestingly enough, while teaching third grade I was able to convince the quarterback of the town's high school football team to work with me in my classroom as part of his 'community service' requirement for graduation. He was less than receptive at first but eventually decided to try it. It is ironic, from what I have last heard about him, that he is now teaching fourth grade in Nebraska. I doubt he would have ever considered the profession without some exposure to a male working in the profession. All in all, I feel your book
answers many of my questions and brings up issues I had not considered
in the past. Thank you. |
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