A CLEVELAND teacher-in-training who wants more male teachers in the profession has been named a state winner for the Australian Family Early Education and Care awards.
Benjamin Jackson, who works at Victoria Point’s Day One Early Learning Centre, picked up the “educational experience rising star” gong, which was announced on Wednesday, May 24.
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Only two others across Australia received the accolade, with the three recipients to compete next month at Sydney for the national prize – a $9000 professional development grant.
Mr Jackson, who was honoured to have been recognised for his work, said he would use the national prize if he won to push his men’s support group MANscaping the male educator.
Mr Jackson began the group, which includes regular podcasts, after he experienced negative biases against male teachers in early years education first-hand.
He said he found entry into the area difficult.
While the experiences did not deter him, he said the level of scrutiny scared away men from teaching.
“Men in the sector are a rare breed,” he said. “Internationally the male population across early years is approximately two per cent of the workforce, which is borderline extinction.
“Men who work in education and childcare are often … under the microscope."
While suspicious attitudes towards men were problematic, Mr Jackson said he was also left belittled when questioned by a parent about his ability to find other work.
The discrimination faced by male teachers might be reason enough for action, but Mr Jackson said the biggest losers were students.
He said the growing number of boys in special education programs could be attributed to the lack of male presence in the classroom.
“I think it might be because of a disconnect with the female teacher,” he said.
He said lack of men in the profession also meant girls missed out on opportunities to have positive male role models in their lives.
While Mr Jackson is focused on encouraging more men to sign-up as teachers, he said he did not want to detract from the work by female counterparts.
His said his biggest mission was to help improve education, with the need for more male educators one part of the solution.
“As much as I advocate for men, this by no means suggests I am encouraging placing men for the sake of it,” he said.
“We should promote an exceptional level of quality in educators.”
Mr Jackson said he was now in talks with the state Education Department to expand his MANscaping the male educator platform.
“Having the chance to enhance elements of education which require a reform urgently is a privilege to be a part of,” he said.
“I could talk for hours on how important it is that education needs to evolve for all involved.”
