World News

The State Government wants more male teachers in classrooms amid concern many boys are lacking role models.

Only one in five state primary school teachers is male, but new figures show the tide may be turning. Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said  that men were responding to special programs to recruit teachers.

"Male teachers are crucial role models for school-aged children and I urge all men to consider teaching as a career path," she said.

We enjoyed a great EC-MENz Summit in Peel Forest, Canterbury, New Zealand, deep in the wild country, this time. We had an emphasis on the different approaches that men can bring to the education of highly active children, encouraging managed risk-taking among children, and exploring the natural environment from a child's view.

Aspley Early Learning Centre director Susie Bell has been overseeing some innovative staffing since arriving in October.

The centre has two male staff members, Brian Bugden and Tristan Bell-Blissner, who are proving a big hit with the children.

Ms Bell said having male staff was unusual for the childcare sector but she said it had become a selling point at Aspley, which caters for more than 100 families.

We have had four Summits in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland. This year we are going to be slightly different and have it at Peel Forest in South Canterbury.

[MenTeach: There are several interesting websites available in Europe that are in English reports Dr. Tim Rohrmann who works in the Coordination office men in ECE out of Berlin, Germany. Check out several of the sites - you'll find some exciting new work!]

[MenTeach: See what other community organizations are doing to recruit more men to teaching].

As a self-employed joiner, Co Down man Patrick Coulter used to spend his working life organising sub contractors and chasing clients for unpaid bills. Now he earns a wage from, among other duties, icing fairy cakes, putting plasters on knees and telling stories.

Primary school children risk facing a lack of adult male role models, as fewer than 20 per cent of primary school teachers are male.

While the number of female primary school teachers continue to grow, it appears male educators are a rare breed.

Mark Osborne, from Immaculate Heart Primary, is one of only two male teachers at the Leichhardt school.

Fewer than one in five students studying teaching in the state's universities and TAFEs are male as the exodus of men from schools worsens.

South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre figures for 2009 show there are 152 males (or 19 per cent) and 650 females enrolled in teaching courses.

Chu Hoang Tung's parents were very surprised to see a man teaching their son's class when Tung entered the fifth grade at Le Ngoc Han Primary School.

Tung's mother Nguyen Thi Thoa says she had never seen a male primary school teacher when her older daughter, now a university student, was in school.

A Kindergarten teacher is using a scholarship to encourage other men into the profession.

Speaking of kindergarten nannies, the first picture that pops into our heads is usually of those tender, versatile female nannies. But in a kindergarten in Nanjing, a male nanny is doing a great job.

Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Ronald Jones, made this admission yesterday, while saying that more men were applying to teach.

He told reporters females were doing their best in the classroom but there were certain things males were better suited to do to help schoolboys - and even girls.

More than one third of primary schools across Cumbria have no male teachers.

There are 275 local authority primary schools across the county, but, according to figures released by the Department for Education, there are 99 primary schools across Cumbria with only female teachers.

The problem is mirrored across the country despite attempts by the previous Government to increase numbers.

The number of men working as school teachers has reached a five-year low leading to concerns about a lack of positive male role models.

A MEN-ONLY teacher taster course is being put on by the county council help encourage more men into the profession.

In 2001/02 there were around 1,500 men teaching in the county but a Government campaign has seen that rise up to 2,341 in 2008/09.

To help boost numbers Bucks County Council are holding their a three-day seminar in September which will include a school placement.