Is it taboo for a man to teach elementary education?

[ALago1]

Hi everyone.

I'm a 22 year old male who is going to be a college graduate in about two weeks. After graduation, I am thinking about getting my masters in education and becoming a certified public school teacher.

When I thought long and hard about what level I would like to instruct, I came to the conclusion that I would enjoy most teaching younger children (1-5th grade) because that is when a persons most formative years occur. I believe that I would make the greatest impact on their lives by teaching them well at such an age.

However, thinking back to my own elementary education, every single teacher I had was a middle-aged woman, leading me to think that there is some discriminatory practice against men in elementary education.

Would going into this field be a waste of time, as schools would be reluctant to hire me? Is there some sort of justification behind it, for example do people think women are more nurturing and younger kids need that most?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[bigwillq]

1. No. Go do it. In my city and state, there is a need for young male

teachers for the elementary level. Two of my friends (ages 24, 25) just got hired and they love it.

[Bertha Venation]

2. oh, heavens, go for it!

The teacher who made the biggest impression on me -- all through school, kindergarten through college -- was a male elementary teacher. He taught 6-8 but in our system that was elementary. He wasn't an asshole; he was the very first man in my life who was not an asshole. He never lied to me; he always followed through on what promises he made; he opened the world of music to me, after I'd rejected it because I was bored.

You rock. Go for it.

[ALago1]

12. Thanks for the encouragement!

:)

[SharonAnn]

3. A friend's son teaches kindergarten. He's 38, parents love him

and so do the kids. He just loves kids and they love him right back.

Parents think he's a great role model.

The school was very enthused about hiring him because they felt he would be a great asset, and he is.

Lots of kids from broken homes would benefit from positive examples of an adult male - and it would be great if you'd do that. Lots of schools recognize there is a benefit here. And parents would absolutely love it!

[bobbieinok]

4. my brother has both elem ed and 2ndary certification

He taught elem ed for ca 10 years.

He says boys need male teachers because they 'see' and 'present' things in ways women don't and in ways that make sense to boys.

His specialty is math; he said in workshops etc women teachers were always asking him 'how did you ever come up with that idea?? do you mind if I use it?'

If I get a chance, I'll ask him for his reasons why he thinks there should be a lot more male teachers at the elem level.

[aquart]

5. Nope. Got a friend doing it.

He originally wanted to be a director. Then he had kids. Now he likes being involved in children's education.

He's very happy. The theatre skills help.

[teach1st]

6. I started teaching kindergarten...

Being a male willing to teach kindergarten made it easy for me to get hired. Principals in elementary are always looking for men.

Go for it!

[TN al]

7. I teach in a high school...

... and every time I am near elementary school children I am reminded as to why I teach high school. My wife teaches elementary school and feels exactly the opposite way. I can say this: a male elementary school teacher will NEVER have trouble finding a job and if I was a 22 year old new teacher I could probably put up with how boring I found the students at that age because I would know I would find many of the female teachers there to be horny. And anyone who disagrees with my last statement just doesn't know.

[ALago1]

13. Young kids are boring?

I could see if you thought they were a pain in the ass (I don't), but I can't fathom how you could say they are boring!

My mom is an elementary school teacher. She says being around young kids all day keeps her young as their vitality is contagious...

[TN al]

16. Well we can't all be smart enough to teach high school...

...Now that I have your attention the activities of small children are not in and of themselves boring but teaching them some of the things I would have to teach them? (yawn)

[mitchum]

21. Actually, I find adolescents just as boring as elementary age kids

I have taught both. Hey, a guy's got to make a buck...

[TN al]

23. OK...

...then I would reccomend a career for you other than teaching.

[LWolf]

8. No.

There are usually more women than men; but there are still plenty of men.

Right now we have 6 men out of about 30 of us.

At one point, about 5 years ago, we actually had one more man than woman; a rarity. Most of them scattered to other schools in our district with a principal change.

[proud patriot]

9. No , my favorite grade school teachers were male

I'm really excited because next year my
son third grade teacher is an ex marine
and he hates bush ...I thinks it's going to be
a wonderful experience for him .

Teach Man Teach

[bobthedrummer]

10. Many of my elementary school teachers were veterans that had used

the GI Bill to become teachers. I'm 54, a boomer.

[2bfree]

11. Children need strong male role models........

This could be one of the most influential things you could ever do. Go for it!

[Ilsa]

14. Absolutely not taboo! My brother-in-law

teaches EE and loves it and the kids love him. He was named teacher teacher of the year at his school. IIRC, Texas is looking for men to teach at all grade levels.

I don't know if there will be politics to consider in advancement. I suspect that may be true wherever you go. Just get the best education you can and be a good teacher.

Also, Special Education pays well in Tx right now, last I heard, if you're getting your ME.

Also, you probably had alot of women as teachers because they felt like (or were) discriminated outside of the teaching profession.

[49jim]

15. As a retired elementary principal and

elementary teacher (31 years total), I'd say go for it! I taught 3rd grade for 6 years, 5th grade for a year and first grade for two years before becoming a principal for 22 years. I had the opportunity to hire young male teachers, but not many out there. I'm presently working part time at a local community college supervising student teachers in the Early Childhood program. Great time being in classrooms again with pre-schoolers and K-1 students. The world is so exciting for them.

[PittPoliSci]

17. no, my friend Bill does.

and he loves it.

[SW FL Dem]

18. Go for it! One of my son's favorite teachers

was his third grade teacher. My son always had women as teachers and he thought it was "neat" to have a man. This teacher brought my son out of his shell and raised his reading level by 3 grades. Any school that refuses to hire a male teacher is very short sighted.

[Maestro]

19. I teach third grade bilingual ed and love it!

And I am 36.

www.irvingisd.net/~spollard

My site map is not functioning so here are some direct links.

www.irvingisd.net/~spollard/classroom.htm
http://www.irvingisd.net/~spollard/parent_links.htm
http://www.irvingisd.net/~spollard/photos.htm
http://www.irvingisd.net/~spollard/research.htm
http://www.irvingisd.net/~spollard/articles.htm
http://www.irvingisd.net/~spollard/bilingual_debate.htm

[ulysses]

20. nah - do it.

I've now had at least some experience working with kids ages 2.5 through 19, and it's the little ones who are the biggest trip and who'll teach you the most about how the learning process happens.

I'm the first male teacher most of my kids have had, and while they respond differently to me, it's never been a negative experience.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

22. When I was in grade school

back in the Leave It to Beaver days, it was customary for fifth and sixth grades to be taught by men in the school district where I spent grades one through five.

When we moved to another town in the middle of my sixth grade year, I was surprised to find that three of the four sixth grade teachers in my new school were women.