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Allegations
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In primary and early
childhood education, support for male teachers is at an all time low
according to education researcher Dr Sarah Farquhar.
NZEI as the union for
teachers of young children should be telling teachers to resist the moral
panic concerning physical contact with children and it should be playing a
leading role in rehabilitating the negative image that surrounds being a male
teacher. Dr Farquhar
reported in a 1997 study of male teacher experiences and female teacher
perceptions of male teachers that fear of being falsely accused of child
abuse was one of the leading reasons why men were reluctant to enter and stay
in kindergarten and childcare teaching. NZEI did not agree with the research,
stating that only low wages and status were the key issues. In April of 1998, John
Edgar, a primary school teacher accused of touching the genitals of seven
boys was acquitted by a Hamilton District Court judge. Edgar appeared on
national television and warned men that the risks of being a teacher were too
great, and he advised those already in teaching to get out. Last week Levin teacher
Michael Neville was acquitted of four indecent assault charges. NZEI stated
in its press release that the case shows the potential vulnerability of
teachers in the education system and highlights an occupational hazard, faced
in particular by male teachers. "Male teachers
should not hear from their union that they have to accept and manage claims
of child abuse as a likely workplace hazard', said Dr Sarah Farquhar. "If male teachers
don't accept this bias and if they don't want barriers to physical contact
with children during the normal course of their work then they are left with
no alternative but to swiftly get out of teaching altogether or to move into
a management position. This is a disastrous state of affairs for the
profession. And it is harmful to children who need teachers who are happy,
engaged, have a strong sense of commitment and who they can trust and rely on
to be there for them in the playground and in the classroom. NZEI issued a press
release in 1999 stating that the union's then 'Code of Conduct: Physical with
Children' was necessary because of instances when a teacher's innocent
actions were misconstrued. NZEI was critical of Dr Farquhar's
comments on the Code fuelling teacher fear of being accused of child abuse
and affecting their ability to respond appropriately and timely to children. Dr Farquhar
said that it appears from NZEI's website that the
Code has received further revision but NZEI's
position remains firm that any physical contact with students presents a risk
to the teacher. "This is a negative position focused on outlining what
teachers shouldn't do. It does nothing to dispel the fears of teachers, or
the distrust of male teachers in particular. And it has proven to be an
ineffective way of preventing any teacher intent on abusing a child from
doing so". "I hope that as
NZEI reviews the case of Mike Neville and considers the implications for the
union's members that it will also consider the implications for children and
for the whole profession of continuing to take a defensive and reactive, case
by case, approach to the problem". |
