“Head of the Class: A Survey of Male Attitudes Toward

Teaching in Early Childhood Education”

McKenna M. Keenan

www.menteach.org

Overview

Persuasive Purpose Literature Review Theory Methods Findings Discussion

Persuasive Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the attitudes and perceptions of male early childhood educators, currently working in the field, about their chosen occupation. Little previous research has been conducted on this topic, thus the information gathered here will contribute to the sociological knowledge as to why men chose an occupation that is typically female; therefore, men are a minor in their profession.

Literature Review

Importance of men in Early Childhood Education– Barnard (2000)– Farquhar (1997)

Scarcity of men– Clyde (1997)– Santiago (1999)

Emergent issues for men– Cooney and Bittner (2001)– Rodriquez (1997)

Recruitment and retention of men– Cooney (2001)– Farquhar (1997)

Why men choose to teach?– Santiago (1999)– Rodriquez (1997)

Theory

Masculinity– Kimmel (1992, 1997, 2006)

social construction theory

– Cohen (2001)

– Williams (2001)

Methods

Procedure– www.surveymonkey.com– 27 question survey– Open and closed ended questions

Demographic, job satisfaction, career choice– October 5, 2006- November 2, 2006

Participants– www.menteach.org– 28 participants– Ages 30-69; average age 48.39; 61% over age of 50– Racial/ ethnic identity– Level of education and training

Findings

Race Age 30-39 40-49 50+ Totals

White 4 (14.3%) 3 (10.7%) 12 (42.9%) 19 (67.9%)

European 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 3 (10.7%) 4 (14.3%)

Other 1 (3.6%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 2 (7.1%)

Asian 1 (3.6%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%)

Native American 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 1 (3.6%)

African American 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%)

Totals 6 (21.4%) 5 (17.9%) 17 (60.7%) 28 (100%)

Table 1: Age and Race of Early Childhood Educators

Table 1Teaching Experience

Findings

Years Age Teaching Ages 0-8

30-39 40-49 50+ Totals

0-5 1 (3.6%) 1 (3.6%) 3 (10.7%) 5 (17.9%)

6-10 4 (14.3%) 1 (3.6%) 3 (10.7%) 8 (28.6%)

11-15 0 (0%) 2 (7.1%) 2 (7.1%) 4 (14.3%)

16-19 1 (3.6%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 2 (7.1%)

20-25 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (7.1%) 2 (7.1%)

26-30 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 5 (17.9%) 6 (21.4%)

31-35 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.6%) 1 (3.6%)

Totals 6 (21.4%) 5 (17.9%) 17 (60.7%) 28 (100%)

Table 2: Age and Years Teaching Ages 0-8 for Early Childhood Educators

Findings

Male presence in schools Location

8, 32%

9, 36%

8, 32%

Rural

Suburban

Urban

Graph 1: Location of School

Findings

factors affecting decisions to enter the field – Administration dissuade ECE– More opportunities in ECE– Signing bonuses– Hiring more males

Salary Influences

Findings

Graph 2: Social Factors Influencing Male Educators

19

32

13

56

19

1 1

15

7

102468

101214161820

ParentSupport

LocalCommunity

AmericanSociety

Isolated

Yes

No

Unsure

Positive Positive Negative Negative

Findings

Mannerisms and accusations Why became a teacher?

– “I wanted to impact children's lives in a positive way. In many families, there are no males. With families becoming split, and the mother raising the children, many children need a male influence in their lives. Studies show that if a child has a male role model, then the child will benefit from it later in life.”

Why ECE?– “I am a kid magnet. When I decided to go back to school,

the requirements for elementary school were restrictive both with money and time. I enjoy the freedom of ECE.”

Findings

any stereotypes and/ or biases – Negative: “Some female colleagues have assumed that I would not want to

diaper children or would not want to work with babies, just because I was a male.”

– Positive: “I've been lucky in that I haven't faced anything but positive biases in my work. If anything, I'm beginning to feel like it's just one more benefit I get simply for being male. People frequently say, ‘It's so good they have a male presence in the room.’”

benefit children differently than females – “We have a different level of communication along with a different approach to

working with children. We may be filling a void where there is no positive male role model.”

New research– “Debate, discussion on these issues is what is necessary to professionalize us

all and identify fears involved with difference and our own bias.”– “This is an issue of diversity and of improving the lives of children and

families.”

Discussion

Provide a new, diverse, and positive role model Age Lack of male educators Discrimination State of ECE profession

– “Our society is beginning to recognize both the inevitability and the value of racial and cultural diversity. But another dimension of diversity is valuing the interests and talents of both sexes, of recognizing the contributions that both women and men can make to children and to one another in their work with children (82).” Cooney (2001)

Children first

QUESTIONS?

Thank you.

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