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: 9/12/2000 5:01:00 AM Author: Bill (arkangelbs@mail.com) Subject: Early Childhood Specialist Hey everyone. My name is Bill. I am an Early Childhood Development Specialist in Arkansas. I am working on my third year teaching the 3 1/2 to 4 year olds at a clinic that deals with children with developmental delays and a medical diagnosis. I have never felt discriminated against as a teacher. The bathroom situation was the only warning I was given when I first started. I was told it would be in my best interest to not go to the bathroom alone and change any girls, but boys were o.k. My Administrator told me this not out of a plan to protect the children in my care, but to protect me from ever being in a situation that could cast any doubt as to what I was doing. I made the concious decision to not go to the bathroom alone with any children. No adult goes to change alone. That way the child is protected, as well as myself. I have been complimented several times by peers and parents in how great it is that their child have a positive male role model in their lives. The type of children we have are all low income, and come from many single family homes. I do not agree with what the one lady said about thinking that men can not provide the same kind of care and nurturing as women. When I go out in the morning play time, I am bombarded by children (my class and others). They want their morning hug and "good morning". I have observed that this does not happen that often when the female teachers enter the play area. I get down on the kids level; give them plenty of hugs, kisses, and attention. Any one can look at these children, and see they are so starved for attention. (Especially male attention). I am very thankful for being given the chance to do my job. If there was any discrimination I feel, as a male Early Childhood teacher, is that it is much harder to get into a public teaching position where I am from. I looked for a teaching position in and around the area I live for more than 4 years before I finally tried for this job. So, for the chance to do what I love, I travel over 80 miles (one way) to my job. I do know what some guys go through with being the male in the group. Out of 40-50 employees, I am the only male in the school. If something breaks, I'm the one they call; if some critter needs wacked, I'm the one they call; and most unfortunately, if something (usually heavy) needs moved, I'm the one they call. Sometimes if feels I spend more time out of the classroom, than in the classroom. But hey; one good thing about this situation is that I have learned a lot of very valuable insight from the woman's perspective. After so long, I became just "one of the girls" to them. They would forget sometimes that I was a guy they were telling something to. Name: Email: Subject

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