A little boy felt surprised when he found that his teacher was a man. The concept that "kindergarten teachers, like nurses, are always female." has been rooted in every child's mind.
Sociologists call this stereotype. It begins when children first step into kindergartens and see that all their teachers are female. Then they spend three years there and it seems that only women are interested in taking care of them.
The French International School in Hong Kong is quite unusual. Students can see that men are also eager to take up the responsibility to teach them.
Mrs. Annie Bouttier, Head of the French Primary School in Jardine's Lookout, Hong Kong, is the pioneer in employing male teachers in kindergartens.
She has encountered a lot of difficulties in seeking the authority's approval.
"Fifteen years ago, men were not allowed to teach in the kindergarten in France," said she. "There were strong dissenting voices."
Mrs. Bouttier, who claims to be a feminist, said that it was valuable to have men teaching in the kindergarten.
Said she: "The idea that men should go out to work and women should stay at home to look after the children is already outdated," said she. "Society is changing. We should keep up with the changes.
"It is important to tell the kids that men are also willing to look after them."
Mr. Bernard Boulic is one of the two male kindergarten teachers at the French International Primary School in Hong Kong. He has been a kindergarten teacher for almost seven years.
Mr. Boulic's students are three to five years old.
"I like teaching children of these ages because they are less tricky and less influenced by their parents and the outside environment," said he.
"They speak whatever comes into their minds. They tell you whenever they come across things they like or dislike."
Mr. Boulic believes that it is very important to have male kindergarten teachers.
"It means a lot to the children," said he. "I act as a male role-model for them, especially those who seldom see their father."
He thinks that his presence gives the children a chance to learn how to get along and interact with men. Also, it lets them know that men are also interested in taking care of them.
The children are then implanted with the knowledge that men are as capable and willing as women in taking care of them in their early childhoods.
Said he: "Men can teach in the kindergarten. Boys canplay dolls. It doesn't really matter. Playing dolls won't make them gay."
Not only is Mr. Boulic well accepted by the children, but also by their parents.
French parents rarely have qualms about having male teachers in the kindergartens. There might be surprises, but few objections.
Also, Mr. Boulic has not found any prejudice against his being a kindergarten teacher because of his gender.
When asked why male kindergarten teachers are already commonplace in France, but almost unheard-of in Chinese society, he said, "I believe that it is a trend. More and more men teach in the kindergarten now."
Mrs. Bouttier, however, said that it might be because the French society is more open.
"There might be more male kindergarten teachers in the States. However, male kindergarten teachers are rare in other European countries," said she.
"I don't know why. But I would like to see more men participating in it, not just in France, but in Hong Kong too."
To her, "male kindergarten teachers" is not an oxymoron, and it should never be.
