Topical Teaching

Two recent articles written in the last month discuss the scarcity of male teachers at Elementary school level.  On the 15th of November an article appearing in the Vancouver Sun, called the shortfall a “crisis.”

Where are the models for young boys? A new Canadian study reveals that only one out of 20 elementary school teachers are male — and the main reason men avoid these young grades is they don’t want to be accused of being pedophiles.

Just today, The Global Times, discussed the same issue – this time in Beijing.

Elementary schools in Beijing are hoping to recruit more male teachers, as there are not many men teaching these grades, and some primary schools do not have any male teachers on their staff …

Same problem as Canada, but a different reason is given:

One survey shows that university graduates who are qualified teachers are more interested in working in secondary schools, which is one reason for the imbalance. Another reason is that male teachers apparently often change jobs.

As a male 4th Grade teacher, I know from experience how outnumbered we are in Australia as well.  I was one of very few males at University and our school currently has only one other male teacher (a part-time sport teacher).  In fact, since it’s just the two of us, there is no male staff toilets at our school.  Instead, we have to use the disabled toilets!  To make matters worse, our Principal invites the school accountant and bus driver to take part in the staff photo to make it look like there is more male staff members.

I never wanted to teach secondary school because I wanted to spend a large block of time with the one group instead of having multiple classes.  I feel it’s more effective in helping make a difference.  Similarly, I enjoy being able to teach a host of different subjects, rather than just one or two subject areas.

Whilst I wish I could say I’m not concerned about being accused of  … (I can’t even finish the sentence it’s so repulsive), I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t.  Our school features tactile female teachers who regularly hug, kiss and have students on their laps.  As kids don’t see any difference with me, they naturally, at first, try to hug me too.  But I don’t let them of course.  I explain that I don’t do hugs.  They don’t understand.  I don’t really know how to explain.

I’ve never wanted to be seen a male teacher.  Just a teacher that happens to be male.  I’ve always thought that boys don’t need ‘male’ teachers, they need ‘good’ teachers.  But just recently, I’ve noticed how much easier I cope with the troubled male students than most of the female teachers.  Maybe it’s true.  Maybe we really do desperately need more male teachers.

But is it a crisis?  Perhaps it’s for the best that there are so few male teachers.  The men I speak to about my profession show absolutely no interest in teaching.  In fact, they would probably rather undergo root canal than teach a class.  If males tend not to show an interest in teaching, could it not be a good thing that they have chosen a different path in life?

What do you think?  If you are a male elementary teacher, why did you choose to be one?