Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! Each month we'll send you an email filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now Date: 5/22/2000 5:22:00 PM Author: Craig (cd.sups.ecc@adlink.com.au) Subject: Males in EC This hornet's nest that I've stirred up makes for a bloody good read - let's keep it going! I can only hope that my friend Judy is taking an active interest in the discussion. GRRRRRR Well, I just want to say that us men cannot be too militant or aggressive in our stance, but we need to just keep plugging away by being good role models and to challenge attitudes whenever the situation arises. That way the people we affect will only spread the word positively. Anyway, when I read Brian's last paragraph I said BINGO ! out loud. The crux of the whole discussion centres on the fact that women and men nurture kids in different ways, and that children need to have positives from both genders to develop into whole people. Brian's statement almost bought a tear to my eye (that's my sensitive side coming out) Pass the tissues Judy. It is part of being human to care for our young. Also, one more point, don't take negative criticism or negative attitudes personally. Take it professionally and it will work out for the best. I had two children come to a centre I was working at been sexually abused in a home based care, by the husband of the carer. the parents had highlighted on their enrolment form that "under no circumstances if there is a male working at this centre, are they to be involved in any way with the care of our children..." i had to understand their point of view and not take this as a personal attack. To cut a long story short, I became the most trusted carer for those parents, who told me that I had done the best job with their children out of all the staff. I had to slowly build up their trust and build a strong relationship with those parents. This was years ago and I still run across those parents every now and then - we stop to have a chat. my point is that we have to remain professional. It's difficult to do but is worth all the effort. This is also the case when we have personal values clouding our judgement e.g. if the child comes from a gay household. we are at the forefront of moulding in some way the attitudes of the children that we care for, it's a big responsibility where we need the right people for the job. Not just males for males' sake, or females for females sake. Name: Email: Subject

© 2007 Excelligence Learning Corporation, All Rights Reserved.