Protect children, but don’t drive men out of education

As a lecturer in early childhood education and a practising early childhood music teacher, I am deeply concerned about the impact of recent revelations of child abuse within early childhood services in Australia. These incidents are truly devastating, and it is right that we as a society respond with urgency to protect children.

However, I am equally concerned about the growing narrative that men, by virtue of their gender, are a danger in early childhood settings. This is not right, and if we are not careful, we risk losing the very men who bring enormous value to our profession and to the lives of children. My husband is a terrific teacher with over 25-years’ experience and so are many of our dearest friends – men who have been wonderful role models for my own sons over the past 18 years.

Effective male educators show children, through their daily actions, that men can be gentle, nurturing, trustworthy, and kind. This is especially important for our young boys, with many children growing up with little or no consistent male presence in their lives. Over the years, I have worked with many pre-service male educators who have been some of the most dedicated, compassionate, and thoughtful individuals I have encountered. Daily, I work with dads and grandads – good, kind, open-minded men, who bring their children and grandchildren to my early childhood music classes to sing, dance, play and make meaningful music. These men play such an important role, yet their place is becoming increasingly precarious.

We cannot allow fear and social stigma to drive these amazing men away from this vital work. Our children deserve a sector that reflects the diversity of the communities they live in, with both women and men contributing their strengths. To paint all men with the same brush not only does a disservice to them, but ultimately deprives children of the opportunity to experience care and learning from a diverse range of educators.

Protecting children must remain paramount, but we must also ensure that good, committed men are not driven out of early childhood. Their presence matters – for children, for families, and for the future of education.

Anne Belcher

Branch Into Music
Lecturer in Early Childhood Education