Promoting men in early childhood education

Promoting men in early childhood education

Norton Harrison says he’s honoured to receive an award for men in early childhood education, on behalf of his employer, He Whnau Manaaki o Tararua Free Kindergarten Association.

Norton is one of three Wellington men heading to the Bay of Plenty this weekend (April 8 and 9) to accept an award at the Early Childhood Men’s annual hui (EC Menz) at the Bethlehem Tertiary Institute.

Norton Harrison, Sam Hosking and Liam Murphy trained as early childhood teachers as a result of an innovative and inspiring programme known as “Y-Under this initiative, young men were placed in six month positions working alongside qualified kindergarten teachers. From that placement, several went on to train as early childhood teachers and complete a three year degree, while four are still studying.

Norton now teaches at Matariki Kindergarten in Upper Hutt. He says it’s good for Whnau Manaaki Kindergartens to be recognised for its support for the men, who make up about two per cent of the early childhood teaching He says as more men become early childhood teachers, it is easier to be “Generally it has been getting better and better – it’s more the norm.”

Latest statistics show that in 2014 there were 321 qualified male teachers working in the sector, compared to just 59 ten years earlier.

Men are still a rarity though, and Norton is looking forward to networking with other men. “I’ll be interested to meet the other guys in the profession and have discussions.”

Whnau Manaaki Kindergartens runs 85 kindergartens and a Pasifika home based service. It caters for 5,600 children aged between six months and six years old, and its services operate in the Wairarapa, Upper Hutt, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Porirua and Wellington communities.

Australian speakers Craig D’Arcy and Martin Mills-Bayne will also present at the EC Menz hui, and Maggie Lyall from Waikato University will present some research on gender.

The award that the “Y men’ kindergarten teachers are receiving is in honour of Adam Buckingham , an Auckland man who helped set up the EC Menz organisation and spoke out to publicise the importance of men as positive role models in early childhood centres.

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