I'm a male nursery class teacher, AMA

[Mrbusyteacherdad]

I teach nursery class and early years in a school setting, have done for several years. I'm the only male in school so ask anything except the name of my school!

I agree with the previous comments about men in teaching being more likely to progress than women.

Genuine question, but why is this? Are male teachers more likely to apply for senior roles then women, are they encouraged more by management to apply, are more capable women being overlooked?

@RevolvingPivot

He said he works in a nursery They are more rare than primary school teachers.

Dd had a male teacher at nursery. I was surprised as I'd never seen one. I don't know why but I don't think of men when I think about people being paid to look after babies and toddlers.

He said he works in a school setting. But teaches nursery and early years children.

@Whinge maybe it's a private school, when my DS is was in the nursery they had a teacher at times as well as nursery support staff.

[quote sleepingrabbits]@Whinge maybe it's a private school, when my DS is was in the nursery they had a teacher at times as well as nursery support staff. [/quote]
Yes I work in a private school, early years, all of the children have a qualified teacher, even the two year olds.

3% of nursery staff are male. Is there prejudice against male early years staff?

First post: "Getting lauded for doing a job that women do all the time without the fucking parade. Just for being make bodied."

Why bother doing a 'male nursery teacher' thread and not just a 'nursery teacher' one? Because it's an issue. The replies in this thread prove it. I'm a male nursery worker. Have I seen job adverts that exclude men? Yes. Have I not got jobs because I'm a man? Yes. Have people pulled their children out of my nurseries? Yes. Do I hear comments suggesting I might be a paedophile? Yes. It is an issue.

You’re devaluing traditionally female jobs with this post. The OP is challenging sex stereotypes by working in a female dominated field. He deserves the exact same praise we heap on women working in male dominated fields. Your attitude implies that only traditionally male jobs are the important jobs worthy of praise.

Exactly this.
As a qualified careers adviser and someone who has dedicated a number of years to challenging stereotypes across a number of career areas I found the first response pretty depressing but not in the least bit surprising.

My question the the OP is - what do you think schools and career guidance professionals can do to challenge the stereotypical attitudes towards men working in early years?

Why do you think men don't go into early years teaching? Is it because it's undervalued and therefore seen a female job? Awful thought but I can o my think that's the reason.
DS encountered one male teacher in two different primary schools. And DD would have benefitted from a better mix too I think. Just as we'd benefit from more women in 'male' jobs.

How embarrassing to have my post repeated with spellcheck issues.
sorry

@Mysterian

You may want to read my post again and think about what my question was.

Not once did I say male school workers were pedophiles.

@SpinsForGin

I find it pretty depressing that you don’t appear to understand my question, or my concerns.

And if you think women get lauded for being in traditionally male dominated industries, then you really should retrain.

@DillonPanthersTexas

I agree with the previous comments about men in teaching being more likely to progress than women.

Genuine question, but why is this? Are male teachers more likely to apply for senior roles then women, are they encouraged more by management to apply, are more capable women being overlooked?

I would say a combination of all those factors.

You may want to read my post again and think about what my question was.

Not once did I say male school workers were pedophiles.

I don't think that poster did say that you accused anyone of being a paedophile. They were responding to why it was worth having a specific thread on being a male nursery teacher.
Although you are demonstrating why it's important all by yourself!!

Great. I hope you enjoy your job

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

I agree with *@Onyernelly*. What difference does your sex have to do with your job? Why not just ask ‘I’m a nursery / early years teacher AMA’. Why announce your male-ness?! Is it because being MALE makes you much more knowledgeable or interesting? Give over.

Tbf we would appreciate an AMA from a woman in am historically male industry.

An AMA by a female building site manager or a female weight lifter or somewhere females are under represented. She wouldn't be snarked at for notifying us of her "femaleness"

At the end of the day, male teaching staff are under represented in Early Years. Why shouldn't he acknowledge his maleness?

I work in a nursery with one male nursery nurse - every year some parents say they don’t want a man changing their children, and we have to tell them this is not the place for them.

I think it’s really important for men to be visual in ‘caring’ roles. Sadly men progress faster than women in most industries for a variety of reasons, that is not unique to education.

[quote Onyernelly]@SpinsForGin

I find it pretty depressing that you don’t appear to understand my question, or my concerns.[/quote]
I understand your question perfectly well thank you.

You clearly don't understand the issues around stereotypes and career decisions and then how they impact on career development.

Male nursery staff often have a very different experience than female nursery staff which does impact the number of men choosing this type of career. It's an important subject to discuss ..... just as important as discussing the specific issues faced by women in male dominated careers.

@Onyernelly I didn't say that you made a paedophile comment. You said:
"And yes - the fact that op is a ‘male nursery teacher’, he was signalling himself out as special."
I was pointing out that actually he is a bit special because he's in a profession that means he's the target for sexist comments and abuse.

And I did think hard about whether to include the typo. I thought as it was a quote it would be wrong to change it. Might post in Pedant's Corner about it.

My former nursery employer would bin any job applications from men.
It's not common for men to teach or work in nursery settings, I've worked in them for a lot of years and met one ever.
If nobody has anything to ask the OP I don't get why they post at all, there's some horrible people on here.
So OP, does it shock you that job applications from men are being binned in definitely one setting? (Safe bet there's many many more)

I wish there were more of you, OP. DS briefly had a male (non-school) nursery assistant and between them DD and DS had three male teachers at primary and all were brilliant - not just because they were male but it did have an influence on the way they taught etc.

But I imagine there’s greater prejudice against early years teachers than higher up primary so what have you encountered and how have you dealt with it? And do you feel you have to be even more cautious safeguarding wise (eg giving upset child a hug) than a female?

I haven’t long completed a not insignificant piece of research for my work that is about gender neutral pedagogy in the early years uk curriculum with a comparison to the Nordic model - predominately Sweden.

The findings are clear.
There aren’t enough males in early years. This is predominately because it has long since been devalued and regarded as women’s work with low status.

In the UK many female teachers have reported male teachers accessing early years predominately to fast track promotion.
The problem is that many males in early years are lauded by almost everyone because they are so unusual. They are promoted above there more qualified counterparts and not held to the same standard.

The result of my research and many other works have been very clear that males in early years are effective and much needed if they challenge stereotypes with their pedagogy.

Unfortunately what is happening in many cases in the UK is that being male bodied is enough- virtue signalling if you will.

Hence my question, how do you perform gender within your pedagogy?

When I trained as a teacher (early years and primary) there were men on my course. I mean there are less men than women in early years but I don't think it's that unusual.
Erm, what are your thoughts on planning in the moment versus traditional planned stimulus for children?

I’ve got to actually work now.

I hope you enjoy your thread op

@Onyernelly

I haven’t long completed a not insignificant piece of research for my work that is about gender neutral pedagogy in the early years uk curriculum with a comparison to the Nordic model - predominately Sweden.

The findings are clear.
There aren’t enough males in early years. This is predominately because it has long since been devalued and regarded as women’s work with low status.

In the UK many female teachers have reported male teachers accessing early years predominately to fast track promotion.
The problem is that many males in early years are lauded by almost everyone because they are so unusual. They are promoted above there more qualified counterparts and not held to the same standard.

The result of my research and many other works have been very clear that males in early years are effective and much needed if they challenge stereotypes with their pedagogy.

Unfortunately what is happening in many cases in the UK is that being male bodied is enough- virtue signalling if you will.

Hence my question, how do you perform gender within your pedagogy?

And yet you chose to open with an unnecessarily snarky post instead of this, which is incredibly interesting!

You clearly don't understand the issues around stereotypes and career decisions and then how they impact on career development

Lol