Male Teachers Are a Rarity in Classrooms

[otohara]

Especially in elementary schools.

This is a not too an old article, but with all this talk about arming teachers (women) I thought this might shed some light the gender imbalance in our schools, which isn't a good thing either.

Chuck Gore retired from the Navy as a commander after 24 years, but he took his nautical love into his second-grade classroom at Carolina Beach Elementary School when he entered his next career as a teacher.

Students are gunner's mates, signalmen and quartermasters sailing on the U.S.S. Excel.

"Welcome aboard" is the standard greeting for visitors.

But Gore is unique not just because of his classroom style but because of his gender.

Male teachers are a rare breed, especially in elementary schools, no matter whether in New Hanover County, North Carolina or nationwide.

The concern, some education experts say, is that fewer men in the classrooms results in less diverse role models for students.


http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110917/ARTICLES/110919769

[alp227]

1. Eliminate gender essentialism and let people be people,

then more men will really want to be teachers.

[Major Nikon]

5. How does that get more women into these professions?

Average Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 3.5

Fisherman
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 116
Median wage: $27,880

Logger
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 92
Median wage: $38,660

Airplane pilot
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 71
Median wage: $115,300

Farmer and rancher
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 41
Median wage: $65,960

Mining machine operator
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 39
Median wage: $39,950

Roofer
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 32
Median wage: $37,880

Sanitation worker
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 30
Median wage: $34,310

Truck driver and deliveryman
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 22
Median wage: $35,500

Industrial machine repairman
Fatality rate per 100,000 workers: 20
Median wage: $45,700

[Deep13]

2. As a practical matter, it also means lower pay for the profession as a whole.

One of my instructors observed that the propensity to pay women less means that as a profession becomes feminized, the overall pay for that profession diminishes.

[duffyduff]

3. Even if there were more men, the pay would NEVER increase

because public education is tied to taxpayer support, and taxpayers are loath to spend more money on salaries.

[dionysus]

4. huh. after elementary school it was about 50/50 when i was growing up in my town...

[ChazII]

6. Th first school I taught at had

a male kdg teacher, one male at the 4th and 5th and two males in 6th. Personally, I'd like to see more males at the elementary level. When I left teaching, 2 years ago, the music and computer teacher were males and we had one male who taught in the 3rd grade.

[Glassunion]

7. There is a bit of a stigma on males in that line of work.

IIRC there was a really good report from ABC on the exact topic. The gist of it being that there are quite a bit of mistrust on the parent's part in regards to sexual stereotypes. Basically questioning if it was even appropriate for young (especially single) men to be teaching young children.

I would think that would weigh pretty heavy on the teacher and may dissuade them from even seeking a job in that particular environment.

[yewberry]

8. Why is this a surprise?

Historically, the only acceptable professions for women were teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. While this has changed dramatically in the past 60 years or so, the professions continue to attract more women than men.