Men as preschool teachers, why not?

Until now - in 2024, many people (including students on the threshold of choosing a career, many parents) still think that the profession of preschool teacher is only for women, men who choose this profession are "weak"; or preschool teachers cannot take care of and raise children as well as teachers. According to education experts, these prejudices need to be eliminated.

THE WHOLE HO CHI MINH CITY HAS 21 KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS

Ms. Luong Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Preschool Education Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that the city currently has 21 preschool teachers, of which 8 are managers, and 13 are teachers directly involved in nurturing, educating, and caring for children.

According to data at the press conference providing information on socio -economic issues in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of January 4, Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said that up to now, the total number of preschool teachers currently receiving state salaries in Ho Chi Minh City is 10,562 people. Thus, the ratio of 21 men/10,562 preschool teachers in the city reflects the reality that very few men are doing this job.

Teacher Le Cong Su in some activities with preschool children

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh Dao, Head of the Preschool Education Department of Saigon University, said that for the past 3 years, there has not been a single male student in the Preschool Education Department. Previously, there were courses with 2 males, and courses with only 1 male student out of a total of 160-180 students in the department.

"Although there are few male students, those who have chosen this major all study very well, are very passionate, have jobs right after graduation, are very welcome by schools and have many achievements during their work," said Dr. Quynh Dao. However, this doctor admitted that in reality, there are difficulties that preschool teachers have to face since their internship at schools. Some parents bring their children to school, and when they see the teacher, they react, do not like it, or doubt whether the teacher can teach and take good care of their children.

"Gender prejudices have been ingrained for so long that many parents think that this profession is not for boys. Or the prejudice that men must be the breadwinners of the family and have a high income, but the salary of preschool teachers is not attractive. These prejudices make even boys think that the profession of preschool teachers is not suitable for them, so they do not choose it from the beginning. While in reality, preschools are extremely welcoming to male students who graduate from preschool education. Especially in the context that the whole of Ho Chi Minh City is lacking hundreds of preschool teachers, the job opportunities for this profession are very attractive," Dr. Quynh Dao commented.

In 2022, Mr. Le Cong Su won first prize in the city-level competition for excellent preschool teachers.

Turning Disadvantages into Advantages

Loving the job, with enough passion to overcome all challenges, many men choose to be preschool teachers, trusted and loved by children and parents. Choosing a career that is not popular, preschool teachers have special advantages to succeed in the profession.

Mr. Le Cong Su, 30 years old, teacher at Hoa Dao Kindergarten, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City is an example. In 2022, Mr. Su won first prize in the city-level competition for excellent preschool teachers on the topic "Building an environment to nurture, care for, and educate children".

Mr. Su said that coming to this profession was a matter of fate. When he entered the Faculty of Preschool Education at Saigon University (in 2012), he was the only man. "At first, I was very shy. When I went to school, I saw only women, and I was looked at everywhere. But gradually, I got used to it, became bolder, spoke more, and gradually became more prominent," Mr. Su recounted. Or even in the first half of the year when he first started teaching, Mr. Su encountered many difficulties. When parents first saw him as a teacher, and he was still very young, they did not like him and were very skeptical, "I don't know if he is caring and can teach children"?

The preschool teacher shared that male students are "unique" in the Faculty of Preschool Education, which is also an advantage. They are loved and supported by friends and lecturers, and given many opportunities to participate in Union and Association activities, promoting their strengths in professional work as well as extracurricular activities. When they go to work, preschool teachers are also very concerned by the principal and colleagues. When they teach well, parents trust them, children love them, then parents "tell each other" and ask for their children to come to their class.

"For boys who are hesitant when choosing a preschool teacher, I advise you to be confident. I guarantee that you will be loved and supported 100% of the time, whether you are in school or when you start work," Mr. Su shared.

Having worked at a kindergarten in District 3 (HCMC) before working at Hoa Dao Kindergarten, Mr. Su taught classes from nursery to kindergarten. Currently, he is teaching the kindergarten class (5-6 years old).

Teacher Thai Hong Duy, teacher of 19/5 City Kindergarten with students

PRESCHOOL IS NOT JUST ABOUT TEACHING DANCE AND SINGING

When mentioning young and talented preschool teachers in Ho Chi Minh City, besides Mr. Su, many colleagues also mention Mr. Thai Hong Duy (29 years old). Graduated from the Faculty of Preschool Education of Saigon University, Mr. Duy made a good impression during his internship at the 19/5 City Kindergarten, District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City), then passed the teacher recruitment exam and worked at this school until now.

"I used to teach kindergarten, but now I teach kindergarten. Compared to female teachers, kindergarten teachers have many advantages," said Mr. Duy.

However, according to Mr. Duy, the stress and pressure that comes to men working as preschool teachers comes from social prejudices about the profession. Many teachers face psychological pressure, when society still has an open view. At the beginning of the school year, there are still parents who do not trust the teachers' experience in caring for and raising children, they even think about the risks of child abuse...

"Any profession has professional ethics, especially to become a preschool teacher at a school, one must undergo thorough professional training, pass an entrance exam, and work under the assignment and supervision of the principal and colleagues. I also hope that all parents appreciate the importance and nature of preschool education. Preschool teachers do not just teach children to dance and sing. Teachers are the ones who provide basic knowledge, open up knowledge for children, and apply it to life. The goals of caring for, nurturing, and educating preschool children are aimed at helping all children develop comprehensively physically, emotionally, intellectually, and aesthetically, forming the first elements of personality, and preparing children for grade 1...", a teacher at the 19/5 City Kindergarten shared... (to be continued)

What if a kindergarten teacher changes diapers and clothes for a little girl?

Mr. Su said that many people are afraid that male teachers cannot take care of their children meticulously and carefully. This is unfounded. In each class, the school board will assign a male teacher to take care of the children along with a female teacher. The female teacher will be in charge of changing diapers and clothes for the girls, while the male teacher will take care of the boys. All childcare and education work must be thorough and absolutely safe.

"At nursery school, with a father and a mother, children learn meticulousness, gentleness, and femininity from their mothers and learn masculinity, strength, and decisiveness from their fathers. The same is true in class. Both teachers and preschool teachers will help children develop in a balanced way. Children learn many positive qualities and personalities from their teachers - their first teachers, who greatly influence the process of shaping their personality later on. We hope parents understand that when any man chooses the profession of preschool education and pursues this job for many years, it proves that he must be very - very passionate about this job," Mr. Su confided.

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