by: colin campbell - 08-07-12 12:25
Does any one know who the first male to qualify as a nursery
nurse is ? Also, when did that man qualify ?
Simple enough questions, but, not easy answers to find.
Can any readers help me.
Many thanks
Colin Campbell [NNEB 1978]
by: joshuajones
Blimey, you have set yourself a task there !!!
I did my training in 1977 at Brixton College and there were no men on the course, however, there was a man (funnily enough called Colin !!) at my placement in Putney, but I think he would have qualified in 1979, but I am not sure, it was a long time ago !!!!
Out of interest why do you want to know ???
Good luck with your research - have you tried getting in touch with Cache ????
RE: RE: first male nursery nurse - 09-07-12 15:18by: colin campbell
Hello Joshua.
Thamks for you reply.
I started my training in 1976 and qualified in 1978 in Edinburgh. In early 1980 [?] I was contacted by the Scottish press due to an article in the Daily Express about a guy who qualified then stating he was the first male in the UK to qualify as an NNEB. My[late] Mother replied to that same article saying that I had qualified before him. The Scotttish press wanted to follow this up ! I refused and was then "told off" by my employers.
Was I the first male ?? who knows-who cares ?
maybe I do after all these years.
Is my interest ego led ? NO I am interested yes, because back then, there was no suppoet for men in the Nursery like there is today. Ba ck in the 1980's I met Kenny Spence [men in Childcare]just as he was starting his career in Nursery via redeployment in Social Work Edinburgh. He began the Men in Childcare project which has grown greatly.
Are you still working in a Nursery JOshua ?
I had to give up my career in the mid ninties due to poor health. A real downer !!!.
My reflective question is really about my interest I er.....um....suppose
Colin C
Well done to him, I say.
RE: RE: RE: first male nursery nurse - 11-07-12 12:23by: colin campbell
Hi Joshua.
Good to hear from you. It's great to know you are still working in the Nursey.Well done man !
Question : Are you the guy I mentioned in my last post who was in the story shown by the daily Express in 1979 ? The timing of your qualifying time [79'] does coincide with the newspaper article.The reply my Mother sent back to the paper after reading it [and after questioning me]was titled "Not the First" She wanted to inform the Express about the inaccuraccy in their article. Whoever was/is the first male Nursery Nurse certanly gets my congratulations. From the early days onwards as a n NNEB worker I had to encounter much hassle. This came from female colleagues who objected to having a male colleague [nursery work was for women only....I was told]and also from single female parents of some children in the Nursery who had had very negative experiences with their husband's and/or partners.
Very tough times for me back then.Some of my female colleagues trid to make my working life very difficult. I loved the job I was in, and did move on to qualify for a Social work qualification which allowed me to apply for and get, a senior post in the Childrens Centre Service. I did encounter seversl female colleagues who seemed determined to give me a hard time at work. This took it's toll. My health suffered. I had know one to talk to about specific gender based problems.My overall health was becoming problematic and I did have to give up my job prematurely.My search these days is probably attached in some way, to that difficult period in my life as well as trying to find out which brave male made the "breakthrough" !
I have only a 14 day [freebie] access to the Forum. It runs out on 17/7/12. I wonder, should I apply for a fee based exxtension ?????
WE shall see. Meanwhile, it has been very good to exchange e mails with you Joshua. I hope to "talk" to you again.
Colin Campbell
by: joshuajones
Hi Colin
Yes I still work in Nurseries.
Back in the 70's Cache was the only examining body for NNEB as far as I am aware, i am sure they would help if you asked them !
Good luck
by: Jam
Don't Know if this is any help, but when i did my NNEB back in 1974-76 at The Mid-Warwickshire College of F.E. Leamington Spa there were 3 guys on our course. I know two dropped out but i think the 3rd stayed on.You might be able to check records.