Internet Goes Wild for Professor Who Teaches While Holding a Single Mom’s Baby
Joel Bunkowske, a Criminal Justice instructor at DeVry University’s Nashville, Tennessee, campus, helps to create an inclusive adult education environment in his classroom by allowing one of his students to bring her small child to class when she is unable to find childcare (Dwyer 2015). When the child starts to fuss he picks up the child and holds him while continuing to lecture (Dwyer 2015). The mother of the child indicates that without the actions and understanding of Mr. Bunkowske and her fellow classmates she would have been forced to miss valuable class time (Dywer 2015). She also relates how Mr. Bunkowske helped relieve the embarrassment she felt about the breakdown of her childcare by telling the class that “everyone has challenges” (Dwyer 2015).
The article then goes on to discuss the high rate of childcare. According to a 2014 report from the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, “the cost of child care for two children is greater than the cost of a home mortgage in 23 states and the District of Columbia” and “for renters, child care fees for two kids in a center are higher than the annual cost of renting in every state” (Dwyer 2015). A “2014 report from Pew found that because of soaring costs, more moms are putting the kibosh on their careers and staying home with their kids: Unless they have a high-paying job with a salary that significantly exceeds child care costs, working stops making much financial sense” (Dwyer 2015). The breakdown of child care that many adults face is also cited in the article.
This article reminded me about a story that went viral in May about an Israeli professor, Sydney Engelberg, at the Hebrew University in Israeli, who was photographed holding the child of one of his students as he lectured (Sashin 2015). The story indicated that the mother was holding the child who started to become fussy (Sashin 2015). Without pausing in his lecture, the professor calmly walked over and took the baby, holding the child as he proceeded with the lecture (Sashin 2015). Professor Engelberg indicated that such an occurrence is not uncommon in his classroom and that Israeli society is very family-oriented (Sashin 2015).
As a graduate student in Adult Education, these stories highlight the life responsibilities and stressors that influence adult education, in terms of learning environment, motivation, resources, etc. For females, who in Western society are often regulated to child rearing roles in higher concentrations than their male counterparts, this becomes a particular challenge/barrier. While adult learners are an increasing student cohort on college campuses, many student resources and programs are not designed for the needs of adult learners. For instance, many colleges have an institutional policy that prohibits children in the classroom while class is in session, which would not allow the actions taken by the two professors cited above to occur. This story emphasizes the institutional barriers to education that social constructs of motherhood, family, gender roles and higher education impose on female adult learners and to their access to education and pursuit of life-long learning.
Dwyer, Liz. 2015. “Internet goes wild for professor who teaches holding a single mom’s baby.” Yahoo.com, September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 24 2015,(http://news.yahoo.com/internet-goes-wild-professor-teaches-while-holding-single-193441346.html).
Sashin, Daphne. 2015.” Professor’s baby-friendly policy earns him the admiration of the internet.” CNN.com, May 19, 2015. Retrieved September 24 2015,(http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/18/living/professor-baby-viral-feat/index.html).