It’s a Man’s Field Too

Abstract

I recall my first year teaching kindergarten and being approached by a parent on the first day of school who joked that she was expecting the teacher to be a “sweet little old lady wearing a denim jumper who enjoys knitting sweaters for her grandchildren,” and was surprised to get to school and find a “big, young guy who barely looks a day over twenty and would blend right in at a frat party.” I laughed at the witty remark and have repeatedly acknowledged that I surely look nothing like most of the children’s preschool teachers. Now, ten years later, when parents and teaching colleagues find out that I am pursuing doctoral studies, they make the common assumption that I must be striving to become an administrator. I have frequently heard remarks such as: “since you’ve been teaching for a while you must be ready to take over and be the boss” that I have learned to explain upfront my commitment to practicing, studying and researching early childhood education.