Recruitment of male kindergarten teachers gains ground, but slowly
Print Edition
Minhang鈥檚 effort to increase the number of men teaching in kindergartens is making slow but steady progress. Education officials say a more balanced staff gender creates the mix of role models that are important in early childhood development.
At present, only 40 teachers, or 1 percent of pre-school staff, are men in the district, but that number is expected to rise.
鈥淲e believe men are as important as women in preschool education,鈥 said Ni Bing, an official with the Minhang Education Academy. 鈥淪ometimes a father鈥檚 presence in a young child鈥檚 life is limited by work constraints or by the traditional notion that raising children is a woman鈥檚 job. But they need a male role model.鈥
Among the men now in preschool ranks is Pan Dong, who has been with Yilin Kindergarten for eight years. After graduation, he chose a job in preschool education because he likes working with children. Over the years, he has developed a teaching style that seems to resonate with youngsters.
鈥淚n the beginning, I was not sure what kind of tone I should use to talk to the children,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 tried to imitate women colleagues, using a soft tone and sweet voice, but that didn鈥檛 work. It gave me a headache.鈥
In the end, he decided to just be himself in front of the children. He talked in his natural voice, and sprinkled his words with bits of humor. The children came to adore him.
In 2013, a kindergarten teaching group for men was formed in Minhang. It started with 25 members. It鈥檚 a place where male teachers can come together every month to exchange ideas.
鈥淭he group is like a second home to these teachers,鈥 said group director Cai Zhigang. 鈥淪ometimes male teachers may feel a bit isolated working amid so many women. The group gives them the chance to share information and even vent frustrations.鈥
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