Key Articles

During the 2014 World Forum in Puerto Rico we met some wonderful people who are working to increase the percentage of men teaching and working for gender equity.

Minority male teachers are scarce in New Jersey’s public schools—and in classrooms across the country—but a bill moving through the state Legislature aims to attract more of them to some of the state’s struggling school districts.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden), would create a pilot program to encourage African-American, Hispanic and Asian men to leave their private-sector jobs, earn alternate-route certification and teach in certain failing school districts.

Bryan Nelson wants to see more men on the playground and in the classroom.

Two-year-old Emme Sugnet's feet came out from under her at the top of a playground slide. She slid a couple feet flat on her back wearing that puzzled look toddlers get when trying to decide if they're wounded. Then she burst into tears. "I want my mommy!" she cried.

Bryan Nelson scooped her up and held her close.

"I know you do," he murmured. "Of course you do."

Teacher training and quality has long been a topic of discussion among policymakers, especially as states have expanded access to alternative teacher training programs outside of traditional schools of education. While many remain skeptical about the effectiveness and worth of such programs, 45 states have implemented alternative routes to certification and 11 percent of teacher trainees attend such programs.

Almost all parents would be happy for their children to be looked after by male nursery workers, new research shows.

There has been a "sea change" in attitudes since a survey six years ago found that only 55 per cent of parents accepted the idea of men working with their children.