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Inviting and welcoming men to teach

Bryan G. Nelson

MenTeach

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MenTeach

A non-profit clearinghouse for recruiting and retaining men teachers to improve children’s social and academic success.

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Male teachers in your life College & universities High schools Elementary schools Kindergarten Preschool, Head Start, Early education

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Assumptions Children deserve the best teachers -

both men AND women. This is not men vs. women - it’s

important to focus on what is best for children and families.

This is a diversity, gender, social and economic issue that has profound effects on children and society.

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Goal

1. To understand WHERE are the men and that men are IMPORTANT in the lives of young children.

2. To recruit we need to INVITE men to our programs.

3. To retain we need to have a WELCOMING culture.

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My story

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Your mentor teacher Turn to a person next to you. Take turns. Tell a story about your mentor teacher.

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Where are the men? In 1996, after almost 20 years…

Are we there yet?

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National study about men 98% strongly agree or agree – men are

important in the lives of young children. There are less than 4% men teachers in

our work.

1) Stereotypes – not nurturing

2) Fear of accusation - dangerous

3) Low status and low wages

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Brief history of men teachers Colonial days young men the

preferred teacher (Youcha, 1995) 1635 to 1750 almost all of the

teachers on town payrolls were men 1750 decreased to 85% 1834 in Massachusetts, 54% teachers

men, by 1860 drops to 22 % (Joncich Clifford, 1991)

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Why more women teaching? Co-education. More education. Delayed marriage & child birth. A strategy to help middle class women. Women could be paid less than men.

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

50.0%

1870187218741876187818801882188418861888189018921894189618981900190219041906190819101930194419471960196619711980198619931999Source: Statistical Abstracts, U.S. Dept. of Education, Bureau of Labor Statistics

1870 - 1999 Men Teachers

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Your invitation Turn to a person

next to you. Take turns. Tell a story about how you have been

invited or how you successfully invite.

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Three ideas to consider

1. Invite boys & men.

2. Welcome men. Make it friendly.

3. Provide a mentor.

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Teen Girls & Technology “Highlights the need for effective interventions

that will empower girls and reframe their use of technology.”

“Details the roles that caring adults can play in providing resources and positive experiences that engage girls in deeper technology skills and applications.”

“Provides fun learning activities that address girls’ interest in entertainment, school, fashion, animals, healthcare, law, sports, fitness, business, art, design, and writing.”

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Teen Boys & Education “Highlights the need for effective interventions

that will empower boys and reframe their ability to nurture and care.”

“Details the roles that caring adults can play in providing resources and positive experiences that engage boys in deeper nurturing skills and education.”

“Provides fun learning activities that address boys’ interest in roughousing, building, dinosaurs, science, explosions, videogaming, mechanics, play, fun, and sports teams.”

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The challenges for boys Studies show that boys receive most of the

`D´ and `F´ grades; Create 80 percent of classroom discipline

problems; Account for 80 percent of high school

dropouts; Make up less than 44 percent of the college

population; Boys are EXPELLED from Preschool 4.5 times

more than girls.

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Welcome boys & men Don’t forget my assumptions:

It’s not about boys versus girls Let’s avoid stereotypes BUT let’s NOT

ignore some of the differences. If your program is boy-friendly, it will be

father-friendly, and if it is father friendly it will welcome male teachers.

AND girls will benefit. Center director and football

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Some US programs Call Me Mister - Lemuel Watson Louisville, Bowie, Armstrong Leadership Programs - Maurice Sykes Teach for America The New Teacher Project Troops to Teachers Breakthrough Collaborative

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Breakthrough Collablorative In 2007, 256 male teachers or 36% 72% go on to teach (tenative results) Serve 2,500 children - 50% boys Of the male teachers:

European American 96 38% African American 44 17% Asian American 38 15% Latino 25 10% Multiracial 11 4%

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David Giveans

Ed Greene

?Others

Mentors of the movement

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Articles from conference

www.MenTeach.org/Schott_Conference

MenMenTeaTeachch

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How to make your program friendly and inviting

Bryan G. Nelson

MenTeach

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Some world programs United Kingdom Belgium, Germany Norway, Sweden Canada Australia & New Zealand

Resources and more stories:www.MenTeach.org

MenMenTeaTeachch

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Wrap around to succeed

To make men feel welcome at a university or college:1. One-to-one mentor2. Work with children right away3. Don’t call it a support group4. Financial incentive (stipend)5. Culturally relevent

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Culture of your program What is it to be male/female? What is the culture of a classroom? Not ignore differences Rating scale modified - Gregory Uba

Meet in small groups to help What is appropriate? What needs to be changed?

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World Forum FoundationMen in Early Care Education (MECE)

MenMenTeachTeach