This week the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson called for more men to teach our children in early years settings and schools Nursery World – Education secretary calls for more male teaching staff to promote positive role models Great! We were told that boys need “strong” role models for boys to look up to, and it was linked to the post-adolescence (Netflix) focus on misogyny. Less great, I shall say why later.
The imbalance in the workforce has been known for many years, and it looks like it is getting worse not better. It was reported only one in four teachers in our schools are men, falling to just one in seven in nursery and primary, with a mere one in 33 in early years (that’s 25%, 14%, and 3% respectively). What’s more, only 2% of school recruits since 2010 have been men. That means we are not seeing any signs of that imbalance being addressed any time soon.
The good news is this call for action has promoted lots of professional debate, TV panels, newspaper columns, and workplace chatter. Much of that has been about the need for boys to connect with men, and for terms and conditions to improve to attract and retain new candidates. It’s a well-trodden minefield of thinking. I offer my four thoughts and responses to all of that in this blog.
First, yes we need more men in the workforce. That is simply because a workforce that is not diverse or representative of the community is not fully exploiting different working styles, cultures, learning approaches, interests, perspectives, and talents available (and more).
Second, I ask why attribute the qualities of strength and role modelling when discussing men in the workforce? It is very tiresome as this is not a gender exclusive quality. For me, I never worked in early years to be a role model any more than my female colleagues were. But I was asked all the time if that’s why I did it.
Third, there is a piece of work that must be done to ensure everyone fully understands the job. Too many people have misguided and out-of-date ideas and understanding of it, including those with the role of careers advice, and qualifications and training. The job is diverse, and enriching, career forming, and full of opportunity.
Fourth, there is a huge issue with the curriculum (in early years and schools), rather how it is delivered through pedagogy and teaching. See point one. The workforce’s lack of diversity is promoting conscious and unconscious gender bias. Children are being given the message that learning is a female pursuit through its design, delivery, leadership, management, assessment, inspection, and value framework.
Tackle these four things, and we may start to see improvements.
Find Joy in the Middle 