Call for more ‘father figures’ in schools and kindy
The National Children’s Commissioner has called for more men to work in schools and daycare centres as “father figures’’ for kids with single mothers.
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MORE men should work in schools and daycare centres as “father figures’’ for kids with single mothers, the National Children’s Commissioner declared yesterday.
Megan Mitchell said good blokes are needed as role models for a generation of stressed-out kids.
“Boys need role models to look up to,’’ she told The Sunday Mail in an exclusive interview to mark the end of her seven-year term as the Australian Human Rights Commission’s voice for children.
“They might not have any men in their life and appreciate someone who’s like a father figure. There are a lot of single-parent families that are female-headed, and it might be the only male person in their life that children can relate to.’’
Ms Mitchell said it was a pity that public concern about child abuse had discouraged some men from taking up teaching and caring roles for fear of being falsely accused.
“There are good guys out there working in an educational setting and we should be supporting them,’’ she said. “They can have different caring styles and behaviours that would benefit children.”
Ms Mitchell called on communities to “step up’’ and get to know children in their circle of friends, family and neighbours.
“Stop and talk to children,’’ she said. “Most people are motivated to keep children safe and look out for them. I would encourage people to get to know kids in their neighbourhood and offer them a shoulder, and I’d like to see more men involved in teaching and early childhood education because it’s really important to have caring male role models.”
Education is dominated by women – blokes make up just 10 per cent of daycare workers, 20 per cent of primary school teachers and 40 per cent of high school teachers.
Brisbane kindy teacher Tim McQuade loves his job working with three-year-old kids at My School Child Care and Kindergarten in Mount Cotton.
“Men are more animated when they play – they will get into the sandpit and build a giant sandcastle, and the kids love it,’’ he said. “It’s important boys understand it’s OK to dance around and have fun or to paint a picture.’’
Mr McQuade, who hails from a family of teachers, said community concerns about abuse had scared men away from working with kids.
“I think more men should become kindy teachers, but there are a lot of stereotypes about men working with children that need to be blown away,’’ he said.
“I think that scares a lot of men away from it.
“Very seldom do I come across another male kindergarten teacher, but it benefits children so much to have positive role models who are men and women.’’
Ms Mitchell said more must be done to help the 25,000 Australian children who are homeless.
She also called for a ban on smacking, to prevent domestic violence and protect thousands of children killed or harmed each year at the hands of their parents
Originally published as Call for more ‘father figures’ in schools and kindy