In one centre, 95 percent of parents blatantly said no to a male caregiver, so he wasn’t even offered an interviewed.

Time after time we read pieces asking, ‘How can we encourage men to become teachers?’ or asserting ‘Our children need more male teachers’.

The truth is, even men who are qualified, and keen to pursue a career, in teaching are being sidelined.

“Almost all child care educators I know or have worked with in the past, refuse to even interview men for positions,” says Jenny* who has worked in the education system in Australia for many years.

“If a position becomes available, whoever is responsible for recruiting asks the parents permission before interviewing a male. It doesn’t matter how qualified they are, how experienced, they are not getting equal treatment. There is so much prejudice, and it runs very deep.

" I recently spoke to someone who’s recruiting. At that centre, 95 percent of parents blatantly said no to a male caregiver. So, he wasn’t even interviewed.”

When you step back and look at this, it’s bizarre. There are just as many news headlines about female teachers abusing children or having sex with students as vice versa. Where is this bias coming from?

“It is thought of as strange if a man wants to work with children." Source: Supplied

The prejudice runs deep

“It’s not complicated, public perception is that all males are potential paedophiles,” Jenny continues.

“It is thought of as strange if a man wants to work with children. Mums might sit around and talk about how much they would love outstanding male role models for their children, but when it comes down to it, they often don’t want men too close. They want male teachers – but not around their little girls. Male carers aren’t allowed to change nappies. They’re not allowed to take a child to the toilet without the supervision of a female worker. Is that fair and equal treatment?”

What are parents going to do to stand up to this discrimination?

Ultimately, it comes down to individual parents speaking up in their local schools.

Are enough parents questioning why White Ribbon posters are pinned up on the walls of their school corridors? This is the beginning of the production line to believing that boys become a threat as they become men.

Are parents questioning the anti-male narrative that’s been preached into young ears? Maybe not enough.

Men and women are different and they bring different styles of teaching to the classroom. Source: Supplied

Male teachers and educators are leaving the field

“It’s certainly discussed amongst us teachers,” she continues. “We all feel it’s wrong that men are discriminated against in our industry. I’ve known plenty of fantastic teachers who left the industry after false accusations. Some simply see the way the odds are stacked against them and don’t want to pursue the career path.

"Sadly, some young male teachers see that it gets worse down the track too. So, they decide to get out, re-train and head in a different direction. One young male teacher said to me just recently, “If it’s this hard fresh out of college, I can’t imagine being able to cope with the prejudice as a 40 something old man.” That was it, he was gone. He became a life coach and counsellor instead.

"What a shame to lose a young man with so much potential. Men have so much to offer. Men and women are different and they bring different styles of teaching to the classroom. Both are important. There are so many young children who don’t have any steady male role models in their life; a good teacher can really make a difference to them. Male mentors are vitally important - but that starts with individual hires, in individual schools, and parents speaking up more loudly.”

She also points out the different kind of play and activities that male teachers bring to the school equation.

“If a father walks in to pick up his kids, nine times out of 10 he will get in there with all the kids and just play. Male teachers can be very much the same. The kids absolutely love the kind of inclusive play men offer. Unfortunately, in many centres I’ve worked in, all of those positives are being ignored. We’ve made it too difficult so men become pushed out. There is a deep-rooted belief that it is suspicious if men want to work with children.”

She asks if I remember the story about the woman who wouldn’t let men babysit her children. Of course, I remember. It makes me fume now as much as then.

“That kind of story isn’t helping,” she says. “That woman said her decision was based on statistics that say men are more likely to abuse children than women. That’s simply not true. We all have a part to play in this. Parents wouldn’t be asked if was ok with them for a female to be interviewed. So why a male? It’s just wrong.”

It is wrong. She is absolutely right.