What is the NZEI Men's Network?
Men's networks are being developed within NZEI to examine issues from a male perspective. The Network is made up of a member of each NZEI District Council, who in turn co-ordinates a local network.
The issues the Network address include: teacher stress, educating boys, career paths, men's health issues, fatherhood, physical/sexual abuse.
Members interested in these issues may like to check out NZEI's research paper on Men in Teaching or the Australian Education Union's debate on about boys in schools and issues around teaching boys.
Contact your district council for information about the men's network in your area.
Men's Network members for 2007
Chris Eccersall – Panther (chair)
Ian Leckie
Colin Tarr
Nigel Wilson
Ron Graham
Karl Vasau
Network Activities
The 2nd Men in Early Childhood Summit 2008
When: Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th February 2008
Location: Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua, Wellington.
This is an opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary – a national gathering of men who are working and studying in early childhood . Come along and meet other men who are involved in this exceptional work, contribute your own stories and be inspired. This event is essential professional development for all men working or studying in early childhood. Women are, of course, welcome to attend! The summit is hosted by Th Men in Childcare andTeaching Network .
Higlights include:
* Issues for Males in Early Childhood
* Career Development for Men in Early Childhood
* Working with Boys and Fathers in Early Childhood Services
* Successful Models of Male Involvement from Overseas
* Mentoring Relationships
* Setting up a Men’s Network Group in Your Area
* Making a Male Friendly Service
For more information Click here.
2007 Annual Meeting Breakfast
The Annual Meeting Breakfast is always a popular event at Annual Meeting. It is sponsored by the Men’s Caucus and has a keynote speaker that focuses on boys or boy’s education. Preparations are underway and a speaker will be confirmed within the next few weeks. Check back here for more information soon.
Men in Early Child Care and Teaching Summit
This inaugural summit was held in Christchurch on the 29 March 2007 and was organised by the Child Forum Network.
This summit was the first of its kind and a precursor to the Early Childhood Council Meeting which was held in the following two days.
The summit focussed on a large research base primarily from Dr Sarah Farquhar and Dr Paul Callister (Victoria University, Wellington).
The final session of the day focussed on “where to from here”. A National Action plan was formulated with a national coordinator and regional coordinators being identified. The focus of the National Action Plan was to improve recruitment and retention of male teachers in ECE, and to lobby training providers to set up mentoring systems between male students in training and currently practicing male early childhood teachers.
2006 Annual Meeting Breakfast
Tthe speaking notes from Dr Tom Cavanagh (University of Waikato & Fulbright Scholar), who addressed the Breakfast in 2006 are available here: Schooling for Happiness: Rethinking the Aims of Education
Contact the Mens's Network
NZEI TE Riu Roa Executive Officer Kevin Burrows is the Men's Caucus secretary. You can contact him by phone on 04 382-2708, fax 04 384-9401, email kevin.burrows@nzei.org.nz