'Manny Nanny' Accepted to College in UK: First Male Student in 120 Years
The first "manny" has been admitted to a prestigious nanny college in the UK. British teenager Michael Kenny, 18, has become the first male ever to be admitted to a degree program at England's most prestigious college for nannies.
Norland College in Bath, England has a 120 year history, over which time the institution has never had a male graduate.
Kenny will graduate in his year alongside 48 other female students in his class - they will earn a Bachelors degree in early childhood studies.
According to ABC News, Kenny as said: "I have always wanted to work with children and Norland has the best reputation in the country, if not the world, for studying childcare."
He added that it "doesn't bother (him) at all" that he is the only male in his class.
Kenny has testified his urge to attend Norland came about following time working in Uganda with disabled children. After spending time teaching English and Mathematics he decided he wanted to commit himself to early childhood studies, in the hope of eventually going on to become a teacher.
According to The Telegraph in England, Kenny called Norland College prior to applying to make sure that they would accept an application from a male. He was told that they would welcome his application, and The Telegraph has been told by the college that it hoped many more male students would now be inspired to apply in the future.
One hurdle Kenny had to overcome though is the compulsory uniform in place at the college. For 120 years the college had only ever had female uniforms - beige dresses. So when Kenny was admitted to the college he had to have a special tweed jacket and pair of beige trousers ordered specially for him.
In a statement Kenny has said, "I don't think it should be thought of as unusual if a man wants to work in the childcare profession. Men can bring a different dimension to childcare and I think it is really important that even the youngest children have strong male role models."
