Letters

My name is Pamela and I'm a television producer in Los Angeles, working for the tv development company, Target Entertainment. I am currently doing research for a tv series in development about dads in daycare. I want men who have chosen child care as their full time profession, either in their home or at a facility. They can care for anywhere from 6 kids to 50. The candidates need to have big personalities, charisma, etc. that would lend themselves to having their own television show, as well.

My son, as he has told me, had an amazing experience working with children over the summer at the Daycare.

The children anticipated his arrival on the days he worked. I had never seen the educators have so much fun and be so involved in "rough play" as when he was there. One educator who has worked with me for the last 18 years said, she had a blast working with him, as he brought so much to the group.

Needless to say, I am very proud of my son. He seems to be a natural.

Now read her son's story.

[MenTeach: We receive many, many e-mails asking for help. They are powerful messages about young men wanting to teach - either from their parents or the young men themselves. We usually receive hundreds of these inquiries - and we welcome them - after news reports. Here is one that we are posting anonymously.]

I was sitting watching Good Morning America today and the story about male teachers came on. It was grieving to think we are lossing our male teachers.

I am actually on the verge of becoming a teacher, having completed my M. Ed. program and reached the student teaching stage. My certification is pre-K -- 6 and my goal is to teach upper elementary (3 - 5). I have worked off an on as a substitute teacher for several years, in between other full time jobs, and determined that I relate best (and am most effective) with 8- 9-10 year old kids. I am 50 years old and am transitioning from a long career in the non-profit sector.

Having been in the field for a few decades, I have realized a few things:

1) We need more males.
2) We (males) will always be a small percentage, but hopefully will grow.
3) Salaries will remain low.

Ruth & Paul _______
Winnipeg, MB
June 9, 2008
 
 
Dear Discovery Centre Staff,
Re: Alicia
 
It is with regret that I inform you that Alicia will no longer be attending Discovery Children's Centre after the last day of school, June 26th. We will be making arrangements for part-time home care in our school division area, as Alicia will be attending Bruce Middle School in September.
 

I wanted to share some good news about recruiting men to our field.

This year we got 131 young men who put working in Preschool as their first or second choice for the Mayor's Summer Youth Work Program. We were able to place 27 of them in Cambridge preschool. The young men are invited to come to sessions specifically addressing the issue of being a man in preschool.

[MenTeach: There were some postings to one of the elists about men and education. Two long time educators discuss a topic of interest.]

What about the men who succeed in what tend to be female-dominated careers, including nursing, travel, marketing, and childcare? Is there such a thing as a reverse glass ceiling for men?

Hello MenTeach,

Here's a great opportunity for men and women in Massachusetts to learn about how to have an impact on education policies, develop professional networks, and to build advocacy skills. Diverse leadership connected to community - architects of change.

Schott happens!

Kitt


It's that time again!

We are looking for great people to be Fellows in 2009. The application, due September 15, 2008, can be found on www.schottfellowship.org.

[MenTeach: Occassionally we receive e-mails from readers that we like to post.]

The little comic strip posted at: http://www.menteach.org/news/male_teachers , left me feeling slightly less alone.

Septima Clark Public Charter School, the first public charter school for boys in Washington, DC, has launched its 2008-09 teacher recruitment search.

We need your help!

I was reading some of the blogged reaction to the program the other night and was surprised to see the overwhelming audience criticism of the female presenters.

[MenTeach was interviewed for a Newsweek article this fall and there has continued to be comments. Read one below.]

This is a prime example of the gender bias found in education today. There is no shortage in male candidate, yet there is a shortage in male teachers.

I was a candidate once but despite all my efforts, I never found a permanent position. This was not for lack of trying.

[Paul Proett has taught a university course for over ten years.]

We are in are 10th year of doing the 1 unit, Community College ECE class. Now are expanding to two colleges.

We continue to "morph" the class. Many of the issues to the "newer" generation entering the field are different, but the reality of few men teaching remains.

How did you begin teaching?

[MenTeach: The opinions expressed in postings on the site do not necessarily reflect the opinions of MenTeach.]

There's no doubt that more male teachers are needed in the United States, and your web site does an excellent job of pointing out many reasons for this. However, as a former teacher (and a male), I would like to shed some light