Y-men to the rescue
Superheroes sorting out kindy problem
MICHELLE DUFF
FIRST STEPS: Norton Harrison, Liam Murphy and Samuel Hosking, of the Y men, a group of young men who underwent an intensive course to train them teach early childhood groups, seen here with kids from Owhiro Bay Kindergarten.
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While most young men would run a mile from early starts and crying kids, a group of self-styled superheroes from Wainuiomata enjoy being in the minority.
Known as the Y-men, the group of eight from Lower Hutt are the first graduates of a pilot programme, funded by the Government, to encourage more male kindergarten teachers.
New Zealand has a chronic shortage of male early childhood education teachers, who make up only 1.7 per cent of the country's teachers.
Alongside the Social Development Ministry, the Wellington Kindergarten Association set up the six-month programme to get unemployed young men working next to qualified teachers at kindergartens, while receiving training and career guidance.
Association general manager Amanda Coulston said the Y-men had acted as role models and encouraged different ways of working.
"Young men bring a different energy to some of us old girls," she said. "So many of these children, if they don't see men in early childhood, they won't see them until secondary school in a teaching role.
"It was a matter of how we could start a programme where young men are involved in the kindergarten in a way that benefits the children."
Graduate Liam Murphy, 21, said that, while their mates gave them stick to start with about being weirdos, he and friends Norton Harrison, 23, and Samuel Hosking, 22, did not see any harm in giving it a try.
"We thought, 'Oh yeah, sweet as, we'll give it a go,' and the first two weeks we were like, 'Oh, all these kids!' And there was so much stuff to do, our morning wake-ups went from noon to 6.30 ... we were a little bit nervous, seeing if we would be able to cope.
"Then a few weeks into it we just started loving it. And driving home, instead of talking about our normal stuff, we'd be talking about what kids made us laugh today and that."
Mr Harrison, who was placed at Owhiro Bay Kindergarten, said the job was rewarding. "At the end of the day you think of the things you've achieved, like teaching a kid how to write his name ... make them stop crying. Every day is different."
Six of the participants were going on to teachers' college, and two pursuing other studies.
The association plans to work with the ministry to expand the Y-men programme this year.
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08:38 pm Jan 20 2012
This is awesome! Keep it up!
I am the super proud mum of Liam Murphy. I have never seen him so excited to get up and go to work and discussing the joy that these children brought to him, bonding with children of various cultures and gaining the knowledge and insight into the Early Childhood Curriculum.All these young men, with their enthusiasm and energy will be an asset to any kindergarten or early childhood facility!!
Its great to finally read positive comments on a story. Excellent stuff.
We were lucky enough to have one of the lads with our kindy last year and the kids really benefited from having him around.... Awesome scheme. Keep it up and thanks Sam!
The kindy my son goes to had one of these young men there. He did a great job and the kids loved him being there. He will be missed when term starts again this year
WOW!! what can I say. Brings a tear to my eyes!! to know that you can get so much joy out of soemthing you really would have never thought of is so special. You guys deserve all the good things to come your way out of this. I wish you all the best. You are truly inspirational to not only myself but to many young men out there. Ka Pai
You guys are awesome! Really inspiring to read. I hope more young guys see this and follow your lead.
Great idea indeed. This program should be extended wherever and however possible. Liam Murphy was at our son's kindy last year and he was so popular with the kids. I think they really responded to have a male around. He was fab and we'll all miss him this year. I hope he goes on to great things in the early childhood sector (goodness knows it needs a boost after successive funding cuts).
YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! Our kids need more GOOD male role models. Keep it up. You're an inspiration to many young men, hopefully.
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My partner runs his own Before/After School and holiday programme for the kids in our area. I think there needs to be a lot more males in ECE and programes like these guys and like my partner runs. The kids he has love it and the parents feel safe and happy leaving their children with him as he has known pretty much all of them since they were a baby as he also use to relieve at the local kindy where they used to go to. So he has know the whole family for many years. He started the business from scratch and has now been running it for 3 years. and even though now some of the kids are getting a bit older and moving on to Intermediate next year he's not short on kids as he is constantly getting referrals from current parents as well as they younger brothers and sisters of the kids he already looks after. I am very proud of what he does and see how great he is with all the kids he looks after