Current Connection 3.2

"97 percent of  teachers in pre-K are woman" says Early childhood news article "men in early childhood: fathers and teachers" written by By Francis Wardle, Ph.D. Men in younger grades than middle school is almost unheard of. "The inclusion of men in early childhood programs has garnered considerable attention over the years. This interest is due to three related trends: 1) the lack of men—usually fathers—in the lives of many of our young children, 2) the dearth of men in the early childhood field, and 3) an increased interest in father involvement in early childhood programs."

Teachers in education are looked at highly by most. Especially when they stick with the traditions of their gender roles. Preschool through the elementary years everyone remembers the female teacher, the male principal, and a variety of equal male and female coaches. No one thinks that a male could be a educator in the younger grades.

According to Dr Wardle's article men want to break these gender role walls. "Male staff want to be treated equally in everything, including rules, expectations, and personnel policies." but women try to keep them in the old gender roles "Male staff want to believe they can have a career in early childhood education, if they so choose. Male employees don’t want to have to do all the heavy lifting. Ask any man in child care and one of the first complaints will be, “I always have to shovel the snow, take out the trash, and lift the child."

Male educator have many roles in the education system. But they should not be bound to them. Equal opportunities should be offered and given. Female educators try to conceal them in there gender roles. Educating should not be limited by sex by the age level.

Current Connection 3.1 Gender Roles on Male Educators

When thinking of "educators" or "school" many probably think of some teacher they once had or have. Thinking back on that how many teachers came to mind that were female? Now how many did you think of that were male? The ratio probably leans more towards the female side. In the article "why do students prefer male teacher?" written by D.C. McAllister tells how gender roles affect male educators.

Going through school males educators were looked at by most as coaches, history teachers, or administers or a combination of all. When you came into contact with these educators it was probably in your high school years. But is that fair to the male educators to be stuck in those positions? According to D.C. McAllister students actually work harder for a male educator. "My family’s views were confirmed by a study done in England, which found that students try harder for male teachers and that they’re seen as more fair. Of course, I think it goes without saying that women are probably just as fair, but something about them makes students perceive that they’re not as impartial as men. What is that? One answer might be that women tend to show their emotions more, and this subjectivity creates a less stable atmosphere." According to her article male educators are actually the way to go and more affective in the teaching process and over all the learning process of the student. 

But why are there so few male educators out there? Yes the world has put men in the gender roles of being leaders such as coaches and administrators in the educating field and that only women are able to teach and connect to students but that is not true. Men can connect with students just as well as women can, "sometimes calm leadership is more important than sympathetic collaboration." Men are usually more calm and have less emotion that women when it comes to some situations and thats just what some or most students need. Not someone trying to feel sorry for the student but someone to kick them in the butt and get them going like most male educators have to offer.

Educators vary from size, shape, teaching style, personalities, and attitudes. There are good teachers and there are bad teachers. Many students have the ability to adapt to the teaching style of most teachers and some do not. But for most students nothing measures up to the guiding hand of a male educator according to D.C. McAllister. "The strength of a man—the kind of strength only he has—is intrinsic to helping us grow up."