I don’t like talking about it and neither does many of my male colleagues, but it is a major reason for why there are so few male teachers in Primary/Elementary schools. The fear of being maliciously and unfairly accused of inappropriate conduct with students drives male teachers away from the early years. I wrote a post just last month which showed that “the main reason (Canadian) men avoid these young grades is they don’t want to be accused of being pedophiles.”
Recently, a new training video urging teachers never to engage in physical contact with pupils, even when adjusting the position of a child’s hand on an instrument was released.
The film, called Inappropriate Demonstration, shows a violin lesson in which a pupil fails to play the right notes. The teacher explains the technique by placing a hand on the pupil’s shoulder and holding his fingers in the right position on the violin. He then explains it a second time by demonstrating on his own violin the correct position. The pupil then plays the correct notes.
The film advises teachers: “It isn’t necessary to touch children in order to demonstrate: there’s always a better way.”
Thankfully, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education in the UK, condemned the video.
That approach “plays to a culture of fear” among children and adults, he said, as he ordered schools to abandon “no contact” rules between teachers and pupils. It was “positively right” for teachers to comfort distressed pupils by putting an arm around them, or demonstrate sports skills through physical contact with a child, he said.
The mother of one of my best friends is a teacher who was maliciously accused of improper conduct with a student because she touched the students hand in an attempt to guide him in correct handwriting technique. It’s scares me personally, because as careful as I am to stay professional and squeaky clean, it is much easier (in this respect) teaching older kids.
To make matters worse, the kids are used to getting hugs from, and sitting on the lap of, female teachers. I literally have to tell my students on the first day that under no circumstances can they hug, pat or touch me. They don’t understand, but thankfully they comply.
I believe that the fear of an inappropriate teacher is a natural one. The media reports on a new “monster” every day, who takes the privilege of teaching children and abuses it in the very worst way. I believe that the prime responsibility is to safeguard the children. Their safety is far more important than my working conditions and pressures.
However, all things said and done, when you are told that you can’t readjust the grip of your music student, you are reminded why male teachers look elsewhere for a career.
Topical Teaching 
January 11, 2011 at 1:24 am |
This is why I always, ALWAYS had my door open when I taught 4th grade. I had the custodian constantly yelling at me to close it because I was “wasting energy”. Finally one day I told him why I have my door open. He understood and stopped trying to tell me to close it. It is very sad that we live this way and have to put up with these fears.
January 12, 2011 at 1:22 am |
Wow! You felt you had to leave the door open! That’s a perfect example of what we go through
January 11, 2011 at 4:35 pm |
Its so sad to think that stuff like this can get in the way of quality teaching. Society, and especially media, has honestly turned so many people into fear-mongers. Hopefully some day we will no longer experience this kind of thing.
January 12, 2011 at 1:19 am |
Amen to that Kat! Thanks for the comment.
January 17, 2011 at 1:40 am |
[…] A Sensitive Issue that Drives Male Teachers Away (Sharing a Love of Teaching) […]
August 2, 2011 at 3:59 pm |
As long as society remains in a state of collective hysteria regarding children, more and more adults (especially men) will rightly fear situations where they are in close proximity to children other than their own. Personally, I go out of my way to avoid certain parks, playgrounds and other areas where children congregate, because an unaccompanied adult male seen walking near such areas will arouse suspicion. I don’t mind this situation; I’d much rather be far away and unseen than fall prey to the lynch mob.
Any efforts to “recruit” more men into teaching will only ensnare some naive, unwary men into situations that could land them in prison in the blink of an eye, their lives ruined forever. Men, you have been warned!
August 2, 2011 at 6:57 pm |
It’s a shame that people need to take such precautions. It is a sad reflection of the fears and concerns loving parents have. Thanks for the comment Eric.