Pre-kindergarten
classrooms are one of the first places children learn about accepting
differences. And the ability to understand and accept people other than
those just like yourself is the cornerstone of a more peaceful and
equitable society. But this perspective is almost always presented by
one gender − female. The National Association for the Education of Young
Children’s recent issue of Young Children (YC) draws attention
to this bias and suggests that children need to interact with men and
women, and it is up to us − the practitioners in the early childhood
arena − to make that happen. Men can be embraced by the early childhood
community if those involved in educating, hiring, and supporting
teachers make gender diversity a priority. Check out this video and see
if it doesn’t make you think twice about how to recruit, train, and hire
in your early childhood setting.