Title

Why More Men Are Needed in Early Childhood

Author

Todd Schnulo, Concordia University, St. Paul

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Non Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education

Program

Early Childhood Education

Capstone Instructor

Michael Walcheski

Keywords

early childhood education, male preschool teachers, sex differences in education

Abstract

Despite increasing male participation in recent years in many traditionally "female'' professions, early childhood education continues to be widely regarded as women's work. Many people in and out of the early childhood field deeply believe that women are naturally predisposed to caring for young children and men are not (Neugebauer, 1999). Male early childhood educators, therefore, are highly conspicuous and subject to considerable suspicion. Male staff want to be able to work with young children without their motives being questioned and without being placed under constant scrutiny by administrators, other teachers and parents for possibly being gay or a pedophile (Neugebauer, 1999). This paper will focus on how more men need to be more involved in early childhood and different ways to include them in the lives of young children. The resulting project will be a retreat for males working in the early childhood field. This project will focus on preparing future male ECEs by educating them on what obstacles they will face, the different ways they will help children and what steps to take in order to become an early childhood educator.

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